Translation guide
The phrasal verb "eat into" has several meanings, from physically wearing away a surface to reducing time, money, or resources. This guide covers the most common uses for English-speaking learners.
Medical expenses ate into my savings.
Means 'to pressure' or 'squeeze', often used for budgets, schedules, or resources being strained.
It's eating into the budget.
Literally 'bite into', used figuratively for encroaching on time, profits, or territory.
Overtime is eating into my free time.
Means 'to shave off' or 'cut down', used for reducing time or money, but less common for gradual consumption.
Transportation costs ate into the travel budget.
To gradually damage or destroy a material through chemical or physical action.
Specifically for chemical corrosion, like acid eating into metal.
The acid ate into the metal.
For erosion by water, wind, etc., often used for natural landscapes.
Means 'to eat into' or 'undermine', often used for decay, disease, or moral corruption.
The cavity is eating into the tooth.
To gradually take over or invade an area, market, or personal space.
Do not translate 'eat into' literally as 食べる (taberu) + 中に (naka ni). It will not be understood. Use the phrases above depending on context.
食い込む (kuikomu) is for encroaching or cutting into something (time, space, profits), while 食いつぶす (kuitsubusu) is for completely using up or exhausting a resource (savings, inheritance).
The waves are eating into the coastline.
Large corporations are eating into the market share of small businesses.