# eat into

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eat-into
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to use up a large part of something valuable, like your time or money, so that there is less left for other things.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The bills eat into of my savings." but "The bills eat into my savings." — the preposition 'into' is followed directly by the object without adding 'of'.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.