chu: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral
Quick answer
What does “chu” mean?
to crush or grind food with the teeth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to crush or grind food with the teeth
to think deeply or ponder over something; to damage or wear down through persistent friction or use
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Chew the fat' (to chat idly) is slightly more common in British English. 'Chew out' (to reprimand) is more firmly American.
Connotations
Similar connotations of thoroughness or persistence in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. The phrasal verb 'chew out' is markedly more frequent in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “chu” in a Sentence
chew [object]chew on [object]chew [object] upchew [object] overVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chu” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The baby is learning to chew solid food.
- Let's chew over the plans in the meeting tomorrow.
- My puppy has chewed through another power cable.
American English
- Make sure you chew your steak well.
- The boss is going to chew us out for missing the deadline.
- I need to chew on that problem for a while.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'Chew' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'Chew' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Chewing gum is not permitted in this school.
- He bought a tough chew toy for his dog.
American English
- She prefers chewable vitamins to pills.
- The steak was too chew for my liking. (informal, as in 'chewy')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'We need to chew over the new proposal before deciding.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing except in biological/medical contexts describing mastication.
Everyday
Very common for describing eating: 'Chew your food properly.'
Technical
Used in dentistry, veterinary science, and mechanics (e.g., 'chew through a cable').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chu”
- Incorrect: 'He chewed on the idea during the meeting.' (This is acceptable but 'chewed over' is more idiomatic for thinking).
- Incorrect: 'The dog chewed the sofa in pieces.' (Prefer 'chewed up' or 'chewed to pieces').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning relates to food, it is commonly used metaphorically for thinking ('chew over') and for persistent wearing down or damaging ('The rust chewed through the metal').
Both can mean to think about. 'Chew over' is more specific and idiomatic for prolonged, careful consideration. 'Chew on' can be more literal (to chew a physical object) or slightly more casual for thinking.
'Chaw' is a non-standard, dialectal, or archaic variant, often associated with tobacco ('a chaw of tobacco'). In standard modern English, 'chew' is the correct form.
Yes, but less common. It can refer to an act of chewing ('had a good chew on that'), a chewy sweet, or a wad of tobacco for chewing.
to crush or grind food with the teeth.
Chu is usually neutral in register.
Chu: in British English it is pronounced /tʃuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chew the fat”
- “chew the scenery”
- “chew someone out”
- “bite off more than you can chew”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cow CHEWing its cud. Both CHEW and COW start with a similar sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS CHEWING (e.g., 'chew over an idea', 'food for thought').
Practice
Quiz
Which idiom means 'to overact dramatically'?