1 B1 idiomatic informal
To eat a meal or food enthusiastically and with great appetite.
"The children tucked into their birthday cake the moment it was placed on the table."
inseparable
tuck into
B1 informal inseparable transitive
To eat something eagerly and with obvious enjoyment.
In plain English
To start eating something with a lot of excitement and hunger.
What does "tuck into" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
(extended, informal) To engage enthusiastically with a task or activity.
"He tucked into the project with more energy than anyone expected."
inseparable
Usage tip
Primarily British and Australian English. Always followed by a food noun. Conveys a positive, enthusiastic tone. Not used for reluctant or polite eating.
Words that pair with "tuck into"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
meal dinner food breakfast cake plate
How to conjugate "tuck into"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tuck into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tucks into
he/she/it
Past simple
tucked into
yesterday
Past participle
tucked into
have + pp
-ing form
tucking into
continuous
Hear "tuck into" in the wild
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