Phrasal verb
eat into
Definition
phrasal verb. to use up a large part of something valuable, like your time or money, so that there is less left for other things.
phrasal verb. to consume or diminish a portion of a resource, typically time, savings, or profits, in a way that is perceived as detrimental or intrusive.
Examples
“Unexpected car repairs really eat into my monthly budget.”
“The long commute to the city eats into her free time, leaving her exhausted by the weekend.”
“Rising inflation and increased operational costs have begun to eat into the company's profit margins, forcing a reassessment of their expansion strategy.”
Examples
simple
“Unexpected car repairs really eat into my monthly budget.”
contextual
“The long commute to the city eats into her free time, leaving her exhausted by the weekend.”
complex
“Rising inflation and increased operational costs have begun to eat into the company's profit margins, forcing a reassessment of their expansion strategy.”
Usage
always followed by an object representing the resource being consumed.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'consume' or 'use up'; 'eat into' implies a gradual, unwelcome erosion of a larger whole.
Pitfall
The bills eat into of my savings.
The bills eat into my savings.
the preposition 'into' is followed directly by the object without adding 'of'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
into
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
eat + into + object