食くい荒あらす

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

eat up and spoil; devour destructively

Used when animals or pests eat crops, food, or resources, causing damage or depletion. Emphasizes the destructive result of eating.

• イノシシが畑はたけの野や菜さいを食くい荒あらした。

  Wild boars ate up and ruined the vegetables in the field.

• ネズミが倉そう庫この米こめを食くい荒あらしている。

  Rats are devouring the rice in the warehouse.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

eat a bit of everything; nibble around

Describes eating small amounts from many dishes or parts, often leaving a messy or picked-over appearance. Less common than sense 1.

• 子こ供どもがおかずをあちこち食くい荒あらして、きれいに食たべない。

  The child picks at the side dishes here and there without eating neatly.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

encroach upon; take over; steal (support, market)

Figurative use: one entity gradually takes over another's territory, market share, or support base, often in a damaging way.

• 大おお手てチェーンが地じ元もと商しょう店てんの客きゃくを食くい荒あらしている。

  The big chain is stealing customers from local shops.

• 新しん興こう企き業ぎょうが既き存ぞん企き業ぎょうの市し場じょうを食くい荒あらす。

  Startups encroach on the established companies' market.