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scoff down
/skɒf daʊn/◆phrasal verb
eat quickly and greedily
He scoffed down his lunch before the meeting.
He ate his lunch very quickly without taking time to enjoy it.
informal
to eat something very quickly and often without much enjoyment
She scoffed down her breakfast while reading the news.
She ate her breakfast very quickly while reading the news.
The kids scoffed down their ice cream before it melted.
The kids ate their ice cream very quickly to prevent it from melting.
This phrase is often used to describe eating in a hurried or careless manner.
Collocations
scoff down foodeat food quickly and greedilyscoff down a mealeat a meal very quickly
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use 'scoff down' when describing someone eating quickly, often in a negative or humorous context.
Gold Rule
Informal Usage
This phrase is informal and should be used in casual conversations rather than formal writing.
Word Origin
The verb 'scoff' comes from Middle English 'scoven' meaning to mock or scorn, but in this context, it has evolved to mean eating quickly and greedily. The phrase 'scoff down' combines this with the preposition 'down' to emphasize the speed and manner of eating.
Usage Notes
This phrase is informal and often used in casual conversation to describe eating quickly, sometimes without much enjoyment. It can have a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the person is eating in a rushed or careless manner.
Word Breakdown
scoff
to eat quickly and greedily
verbdown
emphasizes the speed and manner of eating
prepositionEnglish Dictionary