Phrasal Verbs for Food: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs that create unique meanings. In the context of food, phrasal verbs are commonly used in daily conversations, cooking instructions, and dining scenarios. This guide will help you understand and use these phrasal verbs effectively.
1. Eat up
Meaning: To finish all the food on your plate.
- Example 1: “Come on, eat up your vegetables—they’re good for you!”
- Example 2: “The kids ate up all the cookies in no time.”
- Example 3: “You should eat up your dinner before it gets cold.”
2. Dig in
Meaning: To start eating eagerly.
- Example 1: “The food looks delicious—let’s dig in!”
- Example 2: “He didn’t wait for anyone and just dug in.”
- Example 3: “Dig in while the pizza is still hot!”
3. Pick at
Meaning: To eat very little or without enthusiasm.
- Example 1: “She was feeling sick and only picked at her food.”
- Example 2: “Don’t just pick at your salad—eat properly!”
- Example 3: “He picked at his sandwich, clearly not hungry.”
4. Wash down
Meaning: To drink something after eating food to help swallow it.
- Example 1: “He washed down the spicy curry with a glass of milk.”
- Example 2: “She washed down her burger with a soda.”
- Example 3: “Wash down the medicine with some water.”
5. Cut out
Meaning: To stop eating something, usually for health reasons.
- Example 1: “I’ve cut out sugar to lose weight.”
- Example 2: “The doctor advised him to cut out fried foods.”
- Example 3: “She decided to cut out gluten from her diet.”
6. Whip up
Meaning: To prepare food quickly.
- Example 1: “She whipped up a delicious omelet in minutes.”
- Example 2: “Can you whip up something simple for dinner?”
- Example 3: “He whipped up a smoothie for breakfast.”
7. Boil over
Meaning: When liquid in a pot rises and spills over the edge while boiling.
- Example 1: “The milk boiled over because I wasn’t paying attention.”
- Example 2: “Be careful—the soup might boil over if the heat is too high.”
- Example 3: “I forgot about the pasta, and the water boiled over.”
8. Heat up
Meaning: To warm food before eating.
- Example 1: “I’ll heat up the leftovers for lunch.”
- Example 2: “She heated up some soup for her sick friend.”
- Example 3: “Can you heat up the pizza in the microwave?”
9. Pig out
Meaning: To eat a lot of food, often in an uncontrolled way.
- Example 1: “We pigged out on junk food during the movie night.”
- Example 2: “He pigged out at the buffet and felt sick afterward.”
- Example 3: “Don’t pig out on sweets before dinner!”
10. Go off
Meaning: When food becomes spoiled or rotten.
- Example 1: “The milk has gone off—it smells terrible!”
- Example 2: “Check the expiration date; the meat might go off soon.”
- Example 3: “The bread went off because it wasn’t stored properly.”
Exercises
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs for food with these exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence.
- She _____ her meal with a glass of orange juice. (washed down / picked at)
- He _____ on chips and chocolate all afternoon. (pigged out / boiled over)
- Please _____ the soup before serving it. (heat up / cut out)
- The pasta water _____ because the stove was too hot. (went off / boiled over)
- She decided to _____ dairy products for health reasons. (dig in / cut out)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb to Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eat up | To finish all the food |
| Whip up | To prepare food quickly |
| Go off | To become spoiled |
| Dig in | To start eating eagerly |
| Pick at | To eat very little |
Answer Key
Exercise 1 Answers:
- washed down
- pigged out
- heat up
- boiled over
- cut out
Exercise 2 Answers:
The correct matches are already provided in the table.