fatten

Everyday

1. To make an animal or person fatter, especially farm animals before they are sold for meat, as in «fatten the pigs». tree →
2. To become fatter. tree →
3. (informal) To make something bigger, as in «fatten your wallet». tree →

In the lessons

In farming lessons, farmers fatten cattle, pigs or turkeys. In stories, like «Hansel and Gretel», the witch tries to fatten Hansel up to eat him. In everyday life, adults call rich foods «fattening». Phrase: «fatten up».

Examples

• The witch tried to fatten Hansel up. tree →
• Farmers fatten turkeys before Christmas. tree →
• Bears fatten up in autumn before they sleep for the winter. tree →
• Cream cakes are fattening. tree →
• The geese were fattening on grain. tree →
• Saving pocket money will fatten your piggy bank. tree →
• Better fatten me up; you will enjoy me much more.’ tree →

Note

Double t: fatten, fattened, fattening. Be kind: talking about people's weight can hurt feelings. «Fattening» describes foods with lots of energy (calories).