chews on
Works with teeth
Chews on means to bite and grind something repeatedly, usually food: The dog chews on his bone for hours.
Figuratively, to chew on something is to think it over carefully, turning it around in your mind: Let me chew on that proposal and get back to you.
Both senses suggest sustained, deliberate working-over.
- chompingChewing loudly or eagerly
- deliberatesThinks carefully before deciding
- gnawingPersistent biting action
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- contemplatesConsiders thoughtfully at length
ponders · food for thought · mastication · considers · lost in thought · nibbling · bites off · evaluates · analyzes · rumination · turning over · gumming · muses · reflects · munches · grinding · gnashes · digests
manner of eating/consuming
chews onbolts
Threaded metal fasteners
spits out · gulps · gobbles · wolfs down · inhales
cognitive processing
chews ondismisses
Terminates or rejects
ignores · disregards · brushes off · jumps to conclusions · glosses over