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Meaning & use

take in spoonfuls

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌteɪk ɪn ˈspuːnfʊlz/
US/ˌteɪk ɪn ˈspuːnfʊlz/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    To swallow a liquid or soft food in small amounts, one spoon at a time.

    Grammar: Used with a liquid or soft food as the object before the phrase: take the medicine in spoonfuls.

    Patterns

    • take something in spoonfuls
    • take it in spoonfuls

    The nurse told him to take the cough syrup in spoonfuls rather than all at once.

    If the soup is too hot, take it in spoonfuls and wait between each one.

    She was so weak that she could only take the broth in spoonfuls.

  2. phrasefixed phrase

    To eat or drink something slowly and in small amounts over a period of time.

    Grammar: Often describes a person who is ill or has no appetite; the subject is usually a person.

    Patterns

    • take something in spoonfuls
    • take in spoonfuls of something

    He felt sick all week and took his meals in spoonfuls.

    The child was recovering and began taking in spoonfuls of rice pudding.

    You should take the honey in spoonfuls to soothe your throat.

Common combinations

take medicine in spoonfuls
The label says to take the medicine in spoonfuls after meals.
take a dose in spoonfuls
He took his dose in spoonfuls because he disliked the taste.
take soup in spoonfuls
She took the soup in spoonfuls while she recovered from the flu.
take it in spoonfuls
The drink was bitter, so he took it in spoonfuls.
take in spoonfuls of honey
For a sore throat, take in spoonfuls of honey twice a day.

Synonyms and how they differ

sip
Use 'sip' for small amounts of a drink taken through the lips, not for medicine measured with a spoon.
spoon-feed
This means to feed someone using a spoon, usually a baby or a sick person, and focuses on the action of feeding rather than the amount.

Opposites

gulpswallow whole

Word family

spoonful noun
the amount that a spoon can hold
spoon noun
a small tool used for eating or stirring
spoon verb
to move something with a spoon

Commonly confused: take in spoonfuls or take a spoonful?

take in spoonfuls vs take a spoonful

This is the singular form and means one single spoonful, while 'take in spoonfuls' means taking several small amounts one after another.

Practice

The doctor said to ______ the syrup in spoonfuls.

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