eat up with it
Covered in or consumed by something, usually bad.
Also called ate up with it, et up with it.
Updated September 21, 2026
eat up with it pronunciation
/EET up with it/
Meaning
Means you are overrun by whatever "it" is. Bug bites, poison ivy, a fever, jealousy, or even an obsession with bass fishing. In Appalachian talk the verb often stays "eat" instead of "eaten," so somebody is "eat up with it," not "eaten up." The "it" can be physical or figurative, but it almost always sounds like a problem or a takeover.
How folks use it
- “Look at them arms. He's eat up with mosquito bites.”
- “She's eat up with jealousy over that new truck next door.”
Origin and etymology
Comes from older English "eaten up with," the idea that something is chewing through you. Southern and Appalachian speech kept the short form "eat up with," and folks tack "it" on when the trouble is already obvious. Same family as saying somebody is "ate up with" poison ivy or cancer.
Frequently asked questions
Is eat up with it only for sickness?
No. Sickness and rashes are common, but people also use it for envy, pride, or anything that has taken somebody over.