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dine

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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!

See also: dine, on, out

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!"

See also: dine, duke

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.

See also: dine

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.

See also: dine

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.

See also: dine, off

dine on something

to eat something. We are dining on roast beef tonight. What will we be dining on tonight?

See also: dine, on

eat (a meal) out

 and dine out

to 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.

See also: eat, out

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.

See also: eat, out

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.

See also: eat, out

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.

See also: and, dine, wine

wine and dine somebody

to entertain someone expensively The company wined and dined us, hoping to convince us we should accept the job.

See also: and, dine, wine

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.

See also: and, dine, wine

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.

See also: dine, on, out

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.

See also: 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]

See also: and, dine, wine

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.

See also: eat, out