# eat one's head off

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/eat-ones-head-off
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Of an animal: to cost more to feed than it is worth.

## Examples

- That old horse eats its head off every single month.
- The farm is struggling because the retired cow eats its head off without producing any milk.
- Maintaining the aging stallion became a financial burden, as the creature simply ate its head off while offering no utility to the estate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.