狼吞虎咽 lángtūn-hǔyàn to wolf down one's food (idiom)
to wolf down one's food (idiom); to devour ravenously; to gorge oneself
How to remember 狼吞虎咽: 狼 wolf + 吞 to absorb + 虎 tiger + 咽 throat = to wolf down one's food (idiom).
Characters
How it is used
- To wolf food down ravenously - 他狼吞虎咽地吃完了 (tā lángtūn hǔyàn de chīwánle) he gobbled it all up.
- Vivid four-character idiom (wolf-swallow tiger-gulp); used adverbially with 地 before an eating verb.
- Opposite in feel to 细嚼慢咽 (xì jiáo màn yàn, chew slowly and eat leisurely); implies haste, hunger, or bad manners - 要细嚼慢咽 (yào xìjiáo-mànyàn) you should chew slowly.
Example sentences
- 他狼吞虎咽地吃了一顿。 Tā lángtūnhǔyàn de chī le yīdùn.He devoured his meal.