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dine
dine out on (something)
1. To be invited to a social meal (especially dinner) because of something particularly interesting or entertaining that one knows or has experienced. He dined out on the story of his affair with the movie star for several months.
2. To entertain other people, especially at a meal, with a particularly interesting story of something one has experienced. I always dine out on the story of our mishaps in Bavaria—to this day, it still puts people in stitches!
dine with Duke Humphrey
To go without dinner. The phrase refers to the story of a man who, while visiting the tomb of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, was locked in the abbey—and thus missed dinner. A: "Why are you so hungry? Didn't you eat dinner?" B: "No, I got stuck in a meeting, so I dined with Duke Humphrey!"
dine at (some place)
to eat at a place. We really like to dine at the small cafe on the corner. I hope we can dine at a fine restaurant for our anniversary.
dine in
to eat at home rather than at a restaurant. I think we will dine in tonight. I am tired of dining in. Let's go out.
dine off something
to make a meal of something; to make many meals of something. Do you think we can dine off the leg of lamb for more than one meal? I hope we dine off the turkey only one more time.
dine on something
to eat something. We are dining on roast beef tonight. What will we be dining on tonight?
eat (a meal) out
and dine outto eat a meal at a restaurant. I like to eat a meal out every now and then. Yes, it's good to eat out and try different kinds of food. It costs a lot of money to dine out often.
eat out
to eat a meal away from home, as at a restaurant. I just love to eat out every now and then. Let's eat out tonight. I'm tired.
eat something out
1. . to eat some kind of meal or a particular food away from home, as at a restaurant. We eat fish out, but we don't cook it at home. We may eat out a meal or two, but certainly not every meal.
2. [for something or an animal] to consume the inside of something. The ants ate the inside of the pumpkin out. The ants ate out the pumpkin.
wine and dine someone
to treat someone to an expensive meal of the type that includes fine wines; to entertain someone lavishly. The lobbyists wined and dined the senators one by one in order to influence them. We were wined and dined every night and given the best hotel accommodations in town.
wine and dine somebody
to entertain someone expensively The company wined and dined us, hoping to convince us we should accept the job.
wine and dine somebody
to entertain someone by giving them an expensive meal and wine (usually passive) I'm an old-fashioned girl at heart - I like to be wined and dined on the first few dates.
dine out on
Be invited to dinner because of something one knows about and can discuss. For example, "In a couple of years you will be dining out on this murder" (Ngaio Marsh,
A Man Lay Dead, 1934). [First half of 1900s] Also see
eat out;
sing for one's supper.
eat out
1. Have a meal outside one's home, usually at a restaurant. For example,
We're almost out of groceries, so let's eat out tonight. [Second half of 1900s] For the antonym, see
eat in.
2. eat someone out Also,
eat someone up. Rebuke or scold someone sharply, as in
He was always eating out the kids, or
Why are you eating me up? I haven't done anything wrong. This slangy synonym for
chew out probably originated as a euphemism for
eat someone's ass out. It dates from the 1940s, the variant from the 1840s. Also see the subsequent entries beginning with
eat out.
wine and dine
Entertain someone or treat someone to a fine meal, as in The company likes to wine and dine visiting scientists. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]
eat out
v.1. To eat at a restaurant or away from one's home: I'm tired of cooking; let's eat out tonight.
2. Vulgar Slang To perform cunnilingus on someone.