1 A2 neutral
To remove a piece of something by biting and pulling it away.
"She bit off a small piece of the dark chocolate and let it melt on her tongue."
separable
bite off
B1 neutral separable transitive
To sever something with the teeth; or figuratively, to take on more than one can handle.
In plain English
To use your teeth to break a piece off, OR to take on too much of something.
What does "bite off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To take on or attempt more than one is capable of handling (usually in the phrase 'bite off more than one can chew').
"He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to run three committees at the same time."
“
We've bitten off more than we can chew.
— Commonly attributed usage; widely cited in business and political contexts, including by various U.S. senators during Congressional debates
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To bite a piece off something — severing it with the teeth.
Actually means
To use your teeth to break a piece off, OR to take on too much of something.
Usage tip
The literal sense is straightforward and physical. The figurative sense almost always appears in the fixed expression 'bite off more than one can chew.' The expression 'bite someone's head off' is a related but distinct idiom meaning to respond very angrily.
Words that pair with "bite off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
piece chunk more than you can chew thread fingernail end
How to conjugate "bite off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bite off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bites off
he/she/it
Past simple
bited off
yesterday
Past participle
bited off
have + pp
-ing form
biting off
continuous
Hear "bite off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bite off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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