# carve up

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carve-up
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to divide into pieces

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to cut something, like meat or a large object, into smaller pieces.

For teachers: to physically divide or cut an object into several distinct portions.

- The chef started to carve up the roast chicken for the guests.
- After the turkey had rested, the host began to carve it up, ensuring each guest received a generous portion of both white and dark meat.

Usage: Transitive; the object can sit between 'carve' and 'up'.

### 2. to partition territory or assets

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to divide a country, an area, or a company into smaller parts, often between different people or groups.

For teachers: to partition a territory, organisation, or set of assets, typically in an opportunistic or aggressive manner.

- The two companies planned to carve up the market between them.
- Historians often debate how the colonial powers met to carve up the continent, drawing borders that ignored existing cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Usage: Often used in a critical or negative tone regarding political or business ethics.

### 3. to cut someone off in traffic

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

to drive dangerously in front of another car, forcing them to slow down.

For teachers: to overtake another vehicle and pull in sharply in front of it, causing a hazard.

- A taxi carved me up on the roundabout and I had to brake hard.
- The driver was nearly involved in a multi-car collision after a speeding sports car carved him up without using a signal.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to British English; American speakers would typically use 'cut off'.

## Examples

- The big companies want to carve up the market.
- After the war, the winning nations met to carve up the region into new countries.
- The predatory investors intended to carve up the struggling corporation, selling off its most valuable assets to the highest bidders while leaving the employees with nothing.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: the metaphor comes from carving meat at a dinner table; it helps students visualize the 'slicing' of a whole into portions for different people.

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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.