Definition
Bit and ground food with the teeth; to bite persistently or think about something repeatedly.
Etymology
From Old English 'ceowian,' likely imitative in origin (the sound of chewing). It appears in Germanic languages with similar forms, suggesting ancient roots in animal and human behavior.
Kelly Says
The phrase 'chew on it' for thinking about something came from how cows literally chew cud—regurgitating and re-chewing the same food—which is why it so perfectly captures rumination and reflection.
Translations
CACatalà
masticat
mas-tee-kat
CSČeština
rozžvýkláný
roh-zhyv-klan-ee
DEDeutsch
gekaut
geh-kowt
ELΕλληνικά
σφάλησε
sfa-lee-seh
ESEspañol
masticado
mas-tee-kah-doh
FAفارسی
جویده شده
joo-yedeh shodeh
FISuomi
napattu
na-pat-too
HUMagyar
megcsekk
meh-cheh-k
IDBahasa Indonesia
dikunyah
dee-koo-nyah
ITItaliano
masticato
mas-tee-kah-toh
KKKK
жәйілген
zhay-il-gen
MRMR
चवलेले
cha-va-le-leh
MSBahasa Melayu
dikunyah
dee-koo-nyah
NLNederlands
gekauwd
geh-cow-d
PLPolski
zjedzone
zheh-doh-neh
PTPortuguês
mastigado
mas-tee-gah-doh
RUРусский
прожеванный
pro-zhe-van-nyy
SVSvenska
tuggade
too-gah-deh
SWKiswahili
mevutwa
meh-voo-t-wah
TAதமிழ்
மிழுக்கப்பட்டது
mi-zhu-kka-pa-ttu
TLTL
naka-naka
nah-kah-nah-kah
TRTürkçe
yutturuldu
yut-tur-rul-doo
UKУкраїнська
прожуваний
pro-zhoo-va-nyy