下面的例子是一個朋友在告訴他的朋友關(guān)于家里發(fā)生的不幸的事：
"Ever since grandmother died,grandfather has been eating his heart out--he's lost all interest in life and won't even get out of bed to eat."
這個人說：“自從祖母去世后,祖父非常傷心,他對生活失去了一切興趣,都不愿意起床吃飯.”
To eat one's heart out還可以用在另一種場合,也就是半開玩笑地讓別人對你產(chǎn)生妒忌.你聽了下面這個例子就會明白它的意思了.這是一個大學(xué)生在對他的要好朋友說話：
"Hey,Pete,you know that girl in the physics class you like so much,the one who won't pay any attention to you?Well,eat your heart out,buddy--I'm taking her out for dinner and a movie Saturday night."
他說：“喂,彼得,你知道那個和我們一起上物理課的女孩嗎?那個你非常喜歡,但是她從來也沒注意過你的女孩?這下好了,你去傷心去吧,我星期六請她出去吃晚飯、看電影!”