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gnash up

C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To grind something hard with your teeth until it is broken up.

Literal meaning: To grind with the teeth until broken into pieces.

Meanings

1 C1 informal

To grind or crush something with the teeth in a violent or angry manner.

"The monster in the story gnashed up the bones with a terrible sound."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

This is not a well-established phrasal verb and is extremely rare in corpora. 'Gnash' alone (as in 'gnash one's teeth') is the standard form. 'Gnash up' may appear occasionally in literary or hyperbolic informal speech but should not be treated as a standard phrasal verb. ESL learners are advised to use 'gnash one's teeth' instead.

Commonly used with

teeth food bone

Forms

Base
gnash up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gnashes up
he/she/it
Past simple
gnashed up
yesterday
Past participle
gnashed up
have + pp
-ing form
gnashing up
continuous

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