# hoover up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hoover-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To consume (food or drink) quickly, especially by taking it into the mouth directly from the plate rather than using cutlery.

## Examples

- He hoovered up his soup in seconds.
- After skipping lunch, she hoovered up the pasta straight from the plate without even using a fork.
- The starving hikers, having eaten nothing for two days, hoovered up every last crumb of bread from the tin, their manners forgotten.

## Origin

See hoover. (disputed)

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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.