chew

bite off more than one can chew 

1. Lit. to take a larger mouthful of food than one can chew easily or comfortably. I bit off more than I could chew, and nearly choked.

2. Fig. to take (on) more than one can deal with; to be overconfident. Ann is exhausted again. She's always biting off more than she can chew.

See also: bite, can, more, one

chew (away) at something

to gnaw or chew something for a period of time. The puppy chewed away at the leather belt all night.

chew someone or something up

to damage or ruin someone or something by pinching, grinding, biting, etc. Stay away from the mower blade or it will chew you up. The lawn mower chewed up the flowers.

See also: up

chew someone out and eat someone out

Fig. to scold someone. The sergeant chewed the corporal out; then the corporal chewed the private out. The boss is always chewing out somebody.

See also: out

chew something away

to gnaw something off; to gnaw at something until it's all gone. You can see what's left of it. Most of it has been chewed away by some animal. Your puppy chewed away the top of my shoe!

See also: away

chew something off something and chew something off

to bite or gnaw something off something. The puppy chewed the heel off my shoe. The puppy chewed off the heel and mangled the tongue.

chew something over 

1. Inf. to talk something over; to discuss something. We can chew it over at lunch. Why don't we do lunch sometime and chew over these matters?

2. and chew on something Fig. to think something over. I'll have to chew it over for a while. I'm not sure now. I have to chew on all this stuff for a day or two. Then I'll get back to you.

chew something up

to grind food with the teeth until it can be swallowed. You had better chew that stuff up well. Please chew up your food well.

See also: up

chew on someone or something 

1. to gnaw at something. The dog was chewing on my shoe.

2. Go to chew something over.

chew one's cud

Fig. to think deeply; to be deeply involved in private thought. (Alludes to the cow's habit of bringing food back from the first stomach into the mouth to chew it, called chewing the cud.) He's chewing his cud about what to do next.

See also: cud

chew one's own tobacco

Rur. to mind one's own business. Sally: You seem awfully happy all of a sudden. How come? Tom: Chew your own tobacco. I'm just sitting here chewing my own tobacco, not bothering anybody.

chew the fat and chew the rag

Fig. to chat or gossip. Sit yourself down and let's chew the fat for a while. We were just chewing the rag. Nothing important.

See also: fat

mad enough to chew nails (and spit rivets) and angry enough to chew nails; mad enough to spit nails

Inf. Fig. very angry, as if to be able to bite through metal nails. I am mad enough to chew nails! Who took my checkbook? Her sudden tirade made him angry enough to chew nails. He stomped in, mad enough to chew nails and spit rivets.

See also: enough, mad, nail

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bite off more than you can chew  (informal)

to try to do more than you are able to do Don't bite off more than you can chew. Let someone else organize the party.

See also: bite, can, more

chew somebody's ass (out)  (American very informal!)

to speak or shout angrily at someone because they have done something wrong His boss will chew his ass if he doesn't finish the report on time.

See also: ass

chew the cud  (informal)

to think about something carefully and for a long time He sat chewing the cud all morning.

See also: cud

chew the fat  (British informal) also chew the rag (American informal)

to have a long friendly conversation with someone We spent the evening watching the TV and chewing the fat.

See also: fat

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bite off more than you can chew

to try to do something that is too big or difficult to do The key to success lies in not biting off more than you can chew.

See also: bite, can, more

walk and chew gum (at the same time)

to be able to do more than one thing at a time Officials say they have to plan for all kinds of possibilities, that they have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

See also: and, gum, walk