láng狼wolftūn吞swallowhǔ虎tigeryàn咽gulp
To wolf down; to devour ravenously; to eat like a wolf.
Literal meaning
wolf (狼) — swallow (吞) — tiger (虎) — gulp (咽)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing someone eating very quickly and greedily.
Examples
Tā他è饿jí极le了，láng狼tūn吞hǔ虎yàn咽de地chī吃le了qǐ起lái来。
He was extremely hungry and devoured the food ravenously.
Hái孩zi子men们láng狼tūn吞hǔ虎yàn咽de地chī吃zhe着bīng冰qí淇lín淋。
The children were wolfing down the ice cream.
Usage & nuances
Describes someone eating very quickly and without manners, usually due to hunger.
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