Wolfed Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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wolfed
[wʊlft ]
Definition
eating quickly
To wolf something down means to eat it very quickly or greedily. The term conveys a sense of eagerness or urgency in consuming food.
Synonyms
consume, devour, gobble, inhale.
Examples of usage
- He wolfed down his breakfast before heading to work.
- After the hike, they wolfed down their sandwiches.
- She wolfed down the pizza as soon as it arrived.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Animal Behavior
- Wolves are known to consume large amounts of meat in a single meal, sometimes eating up to 20 pounds in one sitting.
- The social structure of a wolf pack plays a role in their feeding habits, where a dominant wolf may eat first and faster than subordinates.
Pop Culture
- In various movies and shows, characters are often shown 'wolfing' down their meals to depict humor or extreme hunger, adding a comedic element to the story.
- Famous personalities, like competitive eaters, often use the term to describe their eating technique, showcasing extreme speed and quantity.
Psychology
- Eating quickly can be a sign of stress or anxiety, mirroring how predatory animals eat swiftly to avoid competition or danger.
- Psychological studies have shown that hurried eating can lead to overeating, suggesting a connection between speed and lack of awareness in eating habits.
Language Usage
- 'Wolfed down' is commonly used in colloquial speech to describe eating, illustrating how language evolves from animal characteristics to human behaviors.
- The expression captures the imagery of rapid consumption, which resonates across cultures, often used metaphorically to highlight excessive speed in various contexts.
Origin of 'wolfed'
Main points about word origin
- The term 'wolfed' comes from the rooting word 'wolf', which is a predatory animal known for its voracious appetite.
- The transformation into a verb suggests a manner of eating that is fast and careless, much like a hungry wolf attacking its prey.
The term 'wolf' originates from Old English 'wulf', which is derived from Proto-Germanic '*wulfaz'. The imagery of the wolf has long been associated with voraciousness and fierceness, traits that led to the creation of the verb 'to wolf' in the mid-20th century, meaning to eat ravenously. It reflects not only the behavior of actual wolves, who are known to devour their prey swiftly out of necessity, but also the human tendency to consume food quickly, often driven by hunger or time constraints. Over time, 'wolfing down' has become a common idiomatic expression in the English language, capturing both the action and the attitude of eager eating.