bites
bites — verb
- bitespresent simple I / you / we / they
- biteses3rd person singular
- bitesing-ing form
- bitesedpast simple
1. to press the teeth into something in order to cut, tear, or pull off a piece
to press the teeth into something in order to cut, tear, or pull off a piece
The little boy bit into the cookie and crumbs fell all over his shirt.
bite into + noun — common phrasal usage
Kwame bit off a piece of the rope to free the boat from the dock.
Do not bite your fingernails; it is a very bad habit.
The puppy bit through the leather shoe in less than a minute.
Elena bit her lip nervously while waiting for the test results.
文法句型
bite + noun
bite into + noun
bite through + noun
bite off + noun
用法筆記
Can be transitive (bite something) or intransitive (bite into something, bite off something). 'Bite your lip' is a fixed expression meaning to show worry without speaking.
常見錯誤
2. (of a fish) to take food attached to a hook into the mouth
(of a fish) to take food attached to a hook into the mouth
The fish were not biting at all, so we packed up and went home.
fish are not biting — fixed expression for unsuccessful fishing
Pedro waited patiently for the trout to bite on his fly lure.
The salmon bit hard and swam deep, nearly pulling the rod out of his hands.
If the fish do not bite here, we should try fishing near the rocks.
文法句型
fish + bite
not bite
用法筆記
Almost always intransitive. The subject is a fish. 'The fish are not biting' is also used figuratively to mean that people are not responding to an offer or invitation.
3. (of an insect, spider, snake, or other small creature) to pierce the skin with a
(of an insect, spider, snake, or other small creature) to pierce the skin with a stinger, fangs, or mouthparts, causing a wound or pain
A mosquito bit Amara on the arm while she was picking flowers in the garden.
Kenji was bitten by a snake while hiking through the forest.
be bitten by — common passive construction
The mosquitoes here bite very badly, so bring some insect repellent.
Sofia screamed when a strange red ant bit her foot near the picnic blanket.
The doctor said the spider that bit Hassan was not poisonous.
文法句型
bite + person/animal
用法筆記
For insects, the verb 'sting' (stung — stung) is used for bees, wasps, and scorpions. 'Bite' is used for mosquitoes, ants, ticks, spiders, and snakes. The distinction is based on how the creature attacks.
常見錯誤
4. to produce a harmful, unpleasant, or painful result, especially over time
to produce a harmful, unpleasant, or painful result, especially over time
The cold winter wind bit into their faces as they walked home.
wind bites — metaphorical use for cold/pain
The new tax rules will really bite when people file their returns next April.
Budget cuts are starting to bite at the local public library.
Fatima felt the disappointment bite as she read the rejection letter from the university.
The recession began to bite hard, and many small shops closed down.
文法句型
(something) bites
bite + into + noun
用法筆記
Often used in journalism and casual conversation to describe abstract negative forces. 'Start to bite' is a common phrase for when the effects of a decision or situation become noticeable.
5. to show that you are interested in buying something, especially by asking about
to show that you are interested in buying something, especially by asking about or accepting a price
The dealer offered the car at a discount, but no one bit.
no one bit — idiomatic: nobody showed buying interest
We lowered the price of the apartment to see if any buyers would bite.
The company put the shares up for sale and several investors bit at once.
If you offer the painting for two thousand, collectors might bite.
Mei-Lin bit at the real estate agent's offer for the downtown flat.
- respond
to react to an offer; neutral and general, not specific to buying
- accept
to agree to an offer; more definite than 'bite'
- take the bait
to respond as hoped; metaphorical from fishing, like 'bite'
- refuse
to say no to an offer
文法句型
(buyer) bite
bite at + noun
用法筆記
Metaphorical extension from fishing ('the fish bite the bait'). Used in sales, auctions, and negotiations. 'Bite at' is used with a specific offer; 'bite' alone is more general.
6. to hold or carry something between the teeth without cutting or chewing it
to hold or carry something between the teeth without cutting or chewing it
The dog gently bit the stick and carried it back to its owner.
Yuki bit the pencil while thinking hard about the maths problem.
The climber bit the rope between his teeth so that his hands were free.
The mother cat bit the kitten by the scruff and carried it to the basket.
João bit the handle of the shopping bag to free his hands while unlocking the door.
文法句型
bite + noun
bite + into + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises holding or carrying, not cutting. 'Bite by the scruff' is a fixed expression for how parent animals carry their young.
bites — noun
- bitessingular
- bitesesplural
1. the action of pressing the teeth into something, usually to cut, grip, or tear o
the action of pressing the teeth into something, usually to cut, grip, or tear off a piece
Theo took a big bite of the apple and smiled.
A single bite from that dog can cause serious injury.
Mei-Lin gave the sandwich a cautious bite to check if it was fresh.
Grandma laughed when the parrot gave her finger a gentle bite while she fed it a sunflower seed.
Fatima felt a sharp bite on her finger when she reached into the bag.
文法句型
(a) bite
bite + of + noun
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives like 'big', 'small', 'cautious', 'quick' to describe how someone bites.
常見錯誤
2. a wound, mark, or sore on the skin caused by teeth or a stinger
a wound, mark, or sore on the skin caused by teeth or a stinger
The doctor cleaned the dog bite on Kenji's arm and put a bandage over it.
dog bite — noun-noun compound for type of bite wound
Amara scratched her mosquito bite until it started to bleed.
A rattlesnake bite left a deep wound on the farmer's ankle before he could reach the hospital.
The red bite on Sofia's ankle swelled up after she walked through the tall grass.
Hassan put ice on the spider bite to reduce the swelling.
文法句型
(a) bite
bite + on/in + body part
用法筆記
Often used in compound nouns: dog bite, snake bite, insect bite, mosquito bite.
常見錯誤
3. the moment when a fish takes the bait or lure into its mouth while a person is f
the moment when a fish takes the bait or lure into its mouth while a person is fishing
We sat by the river for three hours without getting a single bite.
get a bite — standard fishing collocation
Diego felt a bite on his line and pulled hard to hook the fish.
The old fisherman said the best time to get a bite is just before sunrise.
Ananya finally got a bite after changing the bait three times.
文法句型
get a bite
have a bite
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expressions 'get a bite' or 'have a bite' when talking about fishing. Not used to describe the fish itself.
4. a portion of food eaten quickly, usually smaller than a full meal — for example,
a portion of food eaten quickly, usually smaller than a full meal — for example, a sandwich between breakfast and lunch
Let's grab a bite before the movie starts at seven.
grab a bite — informal fixed phrase for a quick meal
Yuki packed a few bites of cheese and bread for the hike.
The students stopped at a small café for a quick bite between classes.
Kwame offered his sister a bite of his chocolate bar.
After the long meeting, everyone was ready for a bite to eat.
- feast
a large, elaborate meal — opposite in size
文法句型
have a bite
grab a bite
a bite to eat
用法筆記
Very common in everyday informal English. 'Grab a bite' suggests eating quickly, 'a bite to eat' is a general expression for any small amount of food.
常見錯誤
5. a sharp, strong, or spicy quality in food or drink that you notice on your tongu
a sharp, strong, or spicy quality in food or drink that you notice on your tongue
This salsa has a real bite — it is made with hot chili peppers.
have (a) bite — describes strong flavour
The lemon dressing added a pleasant bite to the salad.
I prefer cheese with more bite, like aged cheddar or blue cheese.
Olga added extra ginger to give the soup a spicy bite.
The black pepper gave the dish a warm bite without making it too hot.
- mildness
the quality of being gentle in flavour — opposite of sharpness
文法句型
have bite
with bite
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense. You can say 'has bite' or 'has a bite' — both are accepted, but 'has bite' treats it as a quality rather than a specific instance.
6. a powerful or direct quality in speech, writing, or a performance that makes peo
a powerful or direct quality in speech, writing, or a performance that makes people pay attention
The politician's speech lacked bite and failed to excite the audience.
lack bite — fixed collocation meaning weak or unconvincing
Elena's criticism had real bite because she pointed out specific problems.
The comedy show lost its bite after the writer changed the jokes.
The journalist's editorial about city corruption had real bite, and the mayor faced tough questions at the next press conference.
The documentary had an emotional bite that stayed with viewers long after the credits rolled.
- mildness
gentleness or lack of strong effect
文法句型
have bite
with bite
lack bite
用法筆記
Uncountable. Typically used in negative or comparative contexts — 'lacks bite', 'lost its bite', 'needs more bite'. Describes the forcefulness of communication, not physical sensation.
7. an amount taken from a total, especially money that is deducted or claimed by so
an amount taken from a total, especially money that is deducted or claimed by someone
The government takes a big bite out of every paycheck for taxes.
a bite out of — informal US idiom for a deduction
The lawyer's fee took a large bite from the settlement money.
Rising rent costs are taking an even bigger bite out of our monthly budget.
The new landlord took a huge bite out of the tenants' deposit for damages that existed before they moved in.
The new tax law will take a smaller bite out of middle-class incomes.
文法句型
(a) bite + out of/from + noun
用法筆記
Common in American English in the fixed expression 'take a bite out of' (deduct a portion). In British English this sense is less common.