Today's English phrasal verb of the day is:

Eat up

Those cupcakes look so delicious! I want to eat them up!

What does it mean?

This verb has three meanings:

• Most common meaning= We say "eat up" when we want to eat something completely and enjoy it because it looks very delicious or because we are very hungry. Example: "The child ate up all of his dinner because he was starving."

• We also use "eat up" when we say that someone believes something without questioning it. Example: "The used car salesman told the buyers that the car was in great shape and they ate it up."

• "Eat up" can also mean that you enjoy something such as attention from other people. Example: "She loves the attention that she receives when she gives a great speech. She just eats it up."

How is it used?

This is a separable phrasal verb.  That means we can put the object between "eat" and "up." It's often used in casual conversations when we want to emphasize excitement or interest.

What's the difference between "eat" and "eat up"

• To eat= To consume something. This verb doesn't communicate any idea that the thing that we want to eat is delicious or that we want to eat the whole thing.

• To eat up= To eat something completely because it's delicious or because you are very hungry
  

Sample conversation!

John: (knocks on the door at Sarah's house)

Sarah: Hey John! Welcome to our party! Come on in!

John: Hi Sarah thanks for inviting me. I have been looking forward to this party all week.

Sarah: Great! I hope you're hungry! My friends baked this amazing cake for me. Want to try a piece?

John: Wow, what kind of cake is that?

Sarah: It's double chocolate.

John: It looks amazing. I want to eat it all up!

Photo credits: starmist 1 Nina Mathews Photography,