bite off

To use your teeth to separate a piece from something.

• He bit off a small piece.
• The dog bit off the end of the toy.
• Try not to bite off too much bread at once.

How to use it: bite a piece off something (She bit a piece off the biscuit.)

Common phrases: bite off something, bite something off

To agree to do a job or take responsibility for something, especially something difficult.

• I may have bitten off too much.
• She bit off a difficult task by offering to organize everything.
• Have we bitten off more than we can chew?

How to use it: bite off more than you can chew (I bit off more than I could chew with this project.)

Similar words: take on, undertake

Common phrases: bite off too much, bite off a task

To get something quickly or forcefully, especially part of something larger.

• The company bit off a share of the market.
• New rivals are biting off pieces of our business.
• He hoped to bite off some territory before peace talks began.

How to use it: bite off a piece of something (The firm bit off a piece of the export market.)

Similar words: seize, grab

Common phrases: bite off a share, bite off a piece