gorge
GORJ
/ɡɔːrdʒ/
To eat greedily or to excess; to stuff oneself with food.
Carries a strong negative connotation of overeating without restraint.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'gorge' (throat), derived from Late Latin 'gurges' (whirlpool/gulf). The verb originally meant stuffing food down one's throat. The geographical meaning (canyon) comes from comparing a narrow ravine to a throat.
Word relationships
- stuff: Stuff is informal and neutral, whereas gorge emphasizes greedy, reckless eating.
- binge: Binge implies a period of unrestrained indulgence in food, alcohol, or activities.
- fast: Fast means abstaining completely from eating food.
- nibble: Nibble means eating in very small, gentle bites.
Commonly confused with
- gorge (geography): As a noun, a gorge is a deep narrow valley with steep rocky sides, originating from the throat metaphor.
Word family
- gorged (adjective): Stuffed or gluttonously full.
- disgorge (verb): To discharge or pour out contents violently from the throat or receptacle.
Collocations
- gorge oneself on
- gorge on food
- gorge greedily
Idioms & expressions
- gorge to excess
Example sentences
- "It is tempting to gorge oneself on cheap appetizers before the main course arrives." Dining context
- "They would gorge on wild berries until their fingers were stained purple." Literature citation
Memory hook
GORGE = fill your throat (GORGE) with food until full. Stuffing down the throat in a gorge.
When not to use
Do not use for polite, moderate eating or casual snacking.
Fun facts
- The word 'gorgeous' comes from Old French 'gorgias' (elegantly necked or dressed), sharing the same root as gorge!
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