General
ate up
What does ate up mean?
Describes a service member who is a mess and lacks military bearing, or conversely one so obsessed with following every regulation that they lose sight of the situation. Often extended as 'ate up with the dumbass.'
"His uniform's a disaster and he can't march — that troop is all ate up."
Origin
US military slang.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'ate up' mean?
It describes a service member who is a mess and lacks military bearing — or, at the other extreme, one so obsessed with following every regulation that they lose sight of the actual situation.
Where does 'ate up' come from?
It's US military slang and often gets extended as 'ate up with the dumbass' for emphasis.
Is 'ate up' an insult?
Yes, it's a criticism, used to say someone is either sloppy and hopeless or rigidly by-the-book to a fault.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
