eat into
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
To take away a part of something important, like your money or your time.
Literal meaning: To eat (bite) into something — like biting a chunk out of an apple.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To gradually use up or reduce an amount of money, time, or other resource.
"The unexpected repairs ate into our holiday budget, so we had to choose a cheaper destination."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 neutral
To corrode or physically penetrate a surface gradually.
"The acid quickly ate into the metal surface, leaving deep pockmarks."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Very common in financial, business, and time-management contexts. The object is always the resource being reduced. Used naturally in both formal writing and everyday speech. Example: 'The extra meetings are eating into my writing time.'
Commonly used with
savings profits time budget margin reserves
Forms
Base
eat into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
eats into
he/she/it
Past simple
ate into
yesterday
Past participle
eaten into
have + pp
-ing form
eating into
continuous
Understand "eat into" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "eat into" on Looplines