UK Fodorites, can you explain meaning of the phrase 'tuck-in'?

I might be able to tell you if the two expressions are synonymous if I knew what "chow down" meant.

"enjoy your meal".. but not quite as elegant!

Lol, Padreig! It means 'dig into your food' or perhaps, 'enjoy your meal'. I was just slightly confused when they told me that he had used that expression because I wasn't sure if they were saying that he wanted them to move closer to the table so he could pass...but then after thinking about it, I decided that he was probably expressing wishes for them to have an enjoyable meal.

lincasanova, thanks for the explanation.

'tuck in' means exactly the same as chow down... dig into you food.

Hmmm - I don't quite know how to take this...

I was just reading yk's report on her trip. I could probably smile politely and not bother both Brendan Fraser and Orlando Bloom (though both are pretty cute), but I would have to ask for an autograph from Alan Rickman. Might be because I'm 45...might be because I'm a HP fan and Snape is my favorite character--I can't read the books without picturing Alan Rickman as Snape. Don't know why exactly, but I would have to speak and express my appreciation if nothing else!

Yes, Kellye, if you ever want to give me a birthday present, you'll never go wrong with Alan Rickman.

But you're much braver than me. I would freeze up and wouldn't be able to say a word. That's why I loved hearing from my friends about the lovely way that he treated them. And yes, they were completely charmed by him.

I can't forget Alan Rickman as Obadiah Slope in the tv version of The Barchester Chronicles, and in the spoof sci-fi film Galaxy Quest, which we saw incompletely on three different flights in 2000.

My explanation was only for "chow down" as i have NO idea what "tuck in" means.

'tuck in' means 'dig in, and enjoy your food'. A bit like saying 'bon appetit'. He was probably just trying to be friendly with you. Aw bless him

'Tuck in' can mean; get close to the table, pull in your elbows and set to the meal. Tuck means to; pull in, take a tuck in a dress, tuck into bed. Mr. Rickman is using it as a metaphor.

A tuck shop is a children's or schoolboys expression for a store selling sweets and other goodies. I'm sure Audere could tell us more!!!!

It's often used in a friendly way to mean "start eating" - when someone politely hesitates at a dining table. In other words, a friendly way of saying get on with your meal and enjoy it. You can also "tuck into (or tuck away) a huge plate of food".

"Tuck In" means eat up your meal and enjoy. In Australia Tucker means food.

My Collins dictionary has definition 8 for "tuck" as (British informal) food, especially food and cakes, "tuck into" to eat heartily. "tuck shop", a shop, especially one near a school where cakes and sweets are sold.

...food and cakes, should have been sweets and cakes...

Just off to tuck into my lunch

I've heard that expression used in the US too, ever since I was a child.

I'd also use it to mean making sure a shirt's tidily tucked in to one's trousers, or in making a bed. But it sounds odd as a suggestion to move closer to the table, in order to let someone pass - if that were meant, you'd start by saying "Would you mind...". In this context, definitely an encouragement to enjoy the meal.

jody, I wonder if it's a regional thing, then? I'm from Michigan originally and I've never heard it until last week. Just to be cute, I used it last night when I went out to dinner with six friends. They all looked at me with a puzzled expression. Of course they all think I'm sort of crazy anyway.

If "tuck" means something that requires exertion or using energy then that would explain the phrase "all tuckered out."

It's probably most famously used in the Philip Larkin poem This be The verse:

"They tuck you up, your mum and dad
They may not mean to but they do"

Oh the good old days of popping down to the Tuck Shop to grab a Mars Bar or packet of Discos Better than smoking a *fag* (oohh errr Matron! Let the double entendres fly) behind the bike sheds anyway!

The British boarding school that I went to had a tuck shop. It was only opened during morning break (10.10 - 10.30am) and during lunch 12.00 - 2.00.
It sold all kinds of sweets and chocolates, pop (soda) and light snacks in a dazzling display, from a small counter in the doorway. Our favourite 'buys' as 8 year old kids were a packet of curried peas and an ice cream soda. Those were the days ! (the 70s)

It's most commonly used in the U.S. in the context of, "Get into bed now! I'll be in soon to tuck you in!" Do they say this anywhere else?

English too. To tuck the kids into bed.

I had an aunt who used to specialise in tucking the sheets in so tight you couldn't move.

That's the only way I've heard it used in the US, also. I've never heard it used to mean start eating in the US, and I've lived in a variety of places throughout the US (Midwest, California, East Coast and Oklahoma).

Yes, to 'tuck-in' where I grew up meant giving the little ones bedtime kisses, stories, and any other final comforts, but it had nothing to do with food.

Thanks for all the info, everyone. And since it is lunchtime, I think I'll go and tuck-in now. Cheerio!

Tucking is the action of pushing the sheets under the mattress, similarly as in to tuck your shirt in.

Again, your sheets, as well as your shirt, can be untucked.

Just don't eat so much that you end up being "tuckered out."

Thanks, Dukey! I'll try not to eat so much that I end up looking like Friar Tuck. (groan...and apologies)

>>a packet of curried peas and an ice cream soda<<

I hope teacher opened the window in the afternoon......

Patrick, they were peas, not beans (deep fried until hard and crunchy, with salt and chili powder). Big gastro difference (to us anyway).

I'm with you, jody. Although I've probably heard "dig in" used more often than "tuck in".

Might be that my family used tuck in meaning to eat because they are English and Irish.

audere... I think Larkin used a different spelling of 'tuck' in that poem.