ate it up
/eɪt ɪt ʌp/
Meaning
'Ate it up' (often preceded by 'she,' 'he,' or 'they') is a slang phrase used to describe someone performing incredibly well, looking amazing, or completely dominating a situation. Alternatively, it can mean that an audience loved or eagerly consumed something (e.g., 'the crowd ate it up'). It is a highly casual expression of praise.
Examples
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She wore a custom red gown to the gala and absolutely ate it up.
She wore a custom red gown to the gala and absolutely ate it up.
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The dancer's choreography was so sharp; she ate it up!
The dancer's choreography was so sharp; she ate it up!
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I posted a silly dance video, and my followers ate it up.
I posted a silly dance video, and my followers ate it up.
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He gave a speech at the wedding and the entire room ate it up.
He gave a speech at the wedding and the entire room ate it up.
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She had the hardest verse on the song, but she completely ate it up.
She had the hardest verse on the song, but she completely ate it up.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I was so hungry that I ate it up the whole pizza.
✓ I was so hungry that I ate up the whole pizza.
When talking about literally consuming food, you do not put 'it' before the noun. 'Ate it up' in this slang sense is figurative.
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✗ I ate it up my exam yesterday.
✓ I aced my exam yesterday.
While 'ate it up' means doing well, it is typically used for performances, fashion, or creative displays, rather than academic testing.
Related Expressions
Practice
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Did you see her performance? She completely ___!
💡 Did an amazing job, left no crumbs.
Show answer
ate it up
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The comedian told a joke about dating, and the audience ___.
💡 Loved it and reacted enthusiastically.
Show answer
ate it up