chew over: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral. Common in spoken and written English, particularly in business and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “chew over” mean?
To think about or discuss something carefully and at length before making a decision.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To think about or discuss something carefully and at length before making a decision.
To mentally process information, often by discussing it with others, to gain clarity or reach a conclusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties. Slightly more common in British English in very formal writing.
Connotations
Slightly informal, suggesting a thoughtful, thorough process. Not used for quick decisions.
Frequency
Common in both varieties. The base metaphor (chewing) is universally understood.
Grammar
How to Use “chew over” in a Sentence
[Subject] chews over [Object][Subject] chews [Object] overLet's chew it over.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chew over” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We should chew over the planning application before the council meeting.
- He spent the afternoon chewing over his career options.
American English
- Let's chew over the contract clauses with our lawyer.
- The committee is still chewing over the budget proposal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board will need to chew over the merger details before voting.
Academic
The researchers chewed over the anomalous data for weeks.
Everyday
Let's chew over where to go on holiday tonight.
Technical
The engineers chewed over the fault diagnostics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chew over”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chew over”
- Using it for instant decisions (e.g., 'He chewed over and said yes immediately' - incorrect).
- Incorrect particle order (e.g., 'chew it on' - incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It can describe solitary reflection ('I'll chew it over tonight') or group discussion ('Let's chew it over in the meeting').
Yes. You can say 'chew over the idea' or 'chew the idea over'. With pronouns, it must be separated: 'chew it over' (not 'chew over it').
They are very similar. 'Chew over' often implies a longer, more thorough, or more discursive process, sometimes involving conversation. 'Think over' can be more internal and slightly quicker.
It is neutral to informal. Perfect for business meetings but might be replaced by 'deliberate' or 'consider at length' in very formal legal or academic documents.
To think about or discuss something carefully and at length before making a decision.
Chew over: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃuː ˌəʊ.və/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃuː ˌoʊ.vɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let me chew on that for a while.”
- “We need to chew the fat on this.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cow slowly chewing its cud (food) over and over. You 'chew over' an idea the same way—slowly and repeatedly.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS DIGESTING (Ideas are food to be processed mentally.)
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best illustrates 'chewing over' something?