Feed sb up Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Feed sb up” Mean?

“Feed sb up” means to give someone enough food so that they are full or satisfied. It can also mean to provide someone with what they need to feel content or happy.

Introduction

The phrase “Feed sb up” is a common English phrasal verb used when talking about giving someone enough food to satisfy their hunger. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” meaning the person receiving the food. The feed sb up meaning is simple: it involves making sure someone is well-fed or full. This phrase is often used in everyday conversation, especially when caring for children, friends, or family. Knowing how to use “Feed sb up” correctly can help you sound more natural in English and improve your communication about food and care.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Feed somebody up
• Type: Transitive
• Level: A2–B1
• Meaning: To give someone enough food so they are full or satisfied

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Feed sb up” is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it needs a direct object (somebody). It is usually separable, but in everyday English, the object is often placed between “feed” and “up.”

• Feed + somebody + up (correct): She fed the children up before school.
• Feed up + somebody (less common): She fed up the children before school.

Note: “Feed sb up” is always followed by a person (somebody), not a thing.

How to Use “Feed sb up”?

Use “feed sb up” when you want to express that someone has been given enough food to feel full. It is often used in casual or caring contexts. For example, if you prepare a big meal for your family, you can say you “fed them up.” It emphasizes the act of making someone satisfied by feeding them well.

Examples

Imagine you have just finished cooking dinner for your friends. You might say:

• I fed the guests up with a big meal.
• She always feeds her children up before they go to school.
• After the picnic, everyone was fed up and happy.
• He fed me up with his delicious homemade soup.

These examples show how “feed sb up” is used in natural sentences to describe the act of making someone full.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “feed sb up” with “fed up,” which has a very different meaning (being annoyed or tired of something). Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: I am fed up my children after lunch. (This is wrong because “fed up” means annoyed.)
• Correct: I fed my children up after lunch. (This means you gave them enough food.)
• Incorrect: She fed up the dog. (Less common, but usually “fed the dog up” is better.)
• Correct: She fed the dog up before the walk.

Differences / Synonyms

“Feed sb up” is similar to “fill sb up” or “fatten sb up,” but there are differences. “Fill sb up” means to make someone feel full quickly, often by eating a lot. “Fatten sb up” means to make someone gain weight, usually by feeding a lot over time.

“Feed sb up” focuses on making someone satisfied with food, usually in a caring way. Unlike “fed up,” which means annoyed or frustrated, “feed sb up” is about food and nourishment.

Common Collocations

When using “feed sb up,” certain words often appear with it. These collocations help you sound natural:

• Feed the children up: Give enough food to kids.
• Feed someone up with breakfast/lunch/dinner: Provide a full meal.
• Feed sb up before an event: Make sure they have enough energy.
• Feed sb up with a snack: Give enough small food to satisfy hunger.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of feed sb up:

• Feed Sth Back
• Feed Off Sth
• Feed On Sth
• Feed Sth In

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “feed sb up”:

Anna: Have you fed the kids up yet?

Tom: Yes, I gave them a big lunch, and they are full now.

Anna: Great! They always feel better when they are fed up before playing.

Practice

Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “feed sb up”:

• After school, I always ________ my little brother ________ before he does his homework.
• She ________ the guests ________ with a delicious dinner last night.
• The nurse ________ the patients ________ to help them recover.

FAQs

• What does “feed sb up” mean? It means to give someone enough food so they feel full.
• Is “feed sb up” the same as “fed up”? No, “fed up” means annoyed, while “feed sb up” means to feed someone well.
• Can I use “feed sb up” with animals? Yes, you can say “feed the dog up,” meaning to give the dog enough food.
• Is “feed sb up” formal or informal? It is more informal and commonly used in everyday speech.
• Can “feed sb up” be used in the past tense? Yes, for example, “I fed him up yesterday.”