English Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs relating to FOOD
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt down | Eat food quickly | "She bolted down a sandwich and rushed back to work." |
| Boil down | Heat a liquid until the volume is reduced | "Let the mixture boil down until it thickens." |
| Boil over | Flow over the sides of the container while boiling | "Make sure the milk doesn’t boil over!”" |
| Chop up | Cut into small pieces | “First, chop up the tomatoes and onions.” |
| Cool down | Allow hot food to become cool enough to eat | "Let the tart cool down before serving." |
| Cut back (on) | Eat or drink less of a particular thing | "The doctor told me to cut back on salty food." |
| Cut out | Stop eating or consuming something completely | "I’ve decided to cut out sugar and snacks from now on." |
| Dig in Dive in Tuck in |
Start eating | "This looks absolutely delicious so let’s dig in!" |
| Dish up | Put food on plates and serve | "I'll open the wine while you dish up." |
| Drain off | Remove the liquid used for cooking | "Drain off the spagetti and add the sauce." |
| Eat out | Eat outside your home, especially in a restaurant | "Would you like to eat out tonight for a change?" |
| Eat up Finish up |
Finish eating the food you have been given | "You’ll have no dessert until you eat up your vegetables!" |
| Force down | Make yourself eat or drink something with difficulty | "To be polite I forced down the oysters and smiled at my hosts." |
| Gobble up | Eat all of something very quickly and eagerly. | "The child gobbled up everything on the plate!" |
| Mix in | Add one substance or ingredient to others | "Mix in a tablespoonful of cream before serving." |
| Pick at Peck at |
Unwillingly eat only small amounts of food | "She has lost her appetite. She just picks at her food." |
| Pig out | Eat excessively (usually rich or unhealthy food) | "The boys tend to pig out on junk food when they go out!" |
| Polish off | Finish the remaining food or drink | "Alex had no trouble polishing off the chocolate mousse!" |
| Pour out | Fill glasses or cups with something | "While she poured out the tea, I passed around the biscuits and cakes." |
| Put away | Eat or drink a surprisingly large amount of something | "He managed to put away a bottle of wine as if it was water!." |
| Top up | Add more drink to someone's glass or cup | "Would you like me to top up your wine?" |
| Toy with | Keep touching pieces of food and moving them around while your thoughts are elsewhere | "They sat there toying with their food while waiting for the results." |
| Warm up Heat up |
Make cooked food hot again after it has become cold | "I often make casseroles that I can warm up if my husband arrives home late." |
| Whip up | Prepare a dish or a meal very quickly | "My mother can whip up a meal in no time!" |
| Wolf down | Eat food quickly and hungrily | "The hikers wolfed down the food as if they were starving!" |
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