# bog in

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bog-in
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to start doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, especially eating a large meal.

For teachers: to commence an activity, particularly eating, with vigor and lack of hesitation; primarily used in Australian and New Zealand English.

## Examples

- The food is ready, so everyone bog in!
- As soon as the pizza arrived, the hungry teenagers started to bog in without waiting for plates.
- The volunteers were told to bog in and clear the debris before the tide came back in later that afternoon.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They bogged in the dinner." but "They bogged in." — this phrasal verb is usually intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object after the particle.

## Usage notes

- informal and regional; often used as an imperative to encourage guests to start eating.
- Teaching tip: this is a great example of regional slang; compare it to the British 'tuck in' or the American 'dig in' to show how different dialects handle the same concept.

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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.