eat out

To have a meal in a restaurant or café.

• We eat out every Friday.
• They ate out last night.
• Would you like to eat out tonight?

How to use it: eat out at somewhere (We ate out at a small Italian restaurant.)

Similar words: dine out

Opposites: eat in

Common phrases: eat out tonight, eat out together, eat out at restaurants

To eat food outside, rather than inside a building.

• We ate out in the garden.
• Let’s eat out on the patio today.
• It was warm enough to eat out on the lawn.

How to use it: eat out on/in somewhere (We ate out on the terrace.)

Similar words: eat outdoors

Opposites: eat indoors

Common phrases: eat out on something, eat out here

To gradually remove material by biting, chemical action, or another slow process.

• Acid ate out a hole in the pipe.
• Insects had eaten out the soft wood.
• Rust slowly eats out the metal around the joint.

How to use it: eat out something (The acid ate out a hole in the metal.)

Similar words: erode, corrode, hollow out

Common phrases: eat out a hole, eat out the wood

To speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong.

• The boss ate him out.
• She ate me out for losing the keys.
• Will the officer eat us out for this mistake?

How to use it: eat someone out (The boss ate me out for being late.)

Similar words: tell off, chew out, scold

Common phrases: eat someone out, eat out someone