To eat heartily, enthusiastically, or in large amounts
To eat a lot of food, usually quickly and with great enjoyment
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To eat a meal eagerly and with a healthy appetite, often in a relaxed or celebratory setting
"After the long hike, we sat around the campfire and chowed down on hotdogs and marshmallows."
It's time to chow down.
— Common phrase used in US military culture and popularized in American TV and film
To eat a large quantity of a specific food (followed by 'on')
"The kids were chowing down on chips and salsa while watching the game."
'Chow' is slang for food; 'down' suggests consuming/swallowing — so literally 'eat food down'
To eat a lot of food, usually quickly and with great enjoyment
Primarily American English. Very informal — not appropriate for formal situations. Often used in the context of a big meal, a barbecue, or any occasion where people are eating enthusiastically. Can be followed by 'on' to specify what is being eaten: 'chow down on pizza'.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "chow down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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