# Why do people say "I could eat you up"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-i-could-eat-you-up/279395>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 12, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-i-could-eat-you-up/279395 "2004-12-12T03:22:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-i-could-eat-you-up/279395/21 "2013-04-13T01:38:59Z")

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> [@core\_dump](#):
>
> I told someone she looked so good I wanted to taste her and she didn’t think it was cute whatsoever. I don’t know how you guys are getting away with it.

I think it is all about the choice of words and presentation. Try using a different phrasing next time and don’t look at any specific body parts while you are doing it.

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**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-i-could-eat-you-up/279395/22 "2013-04-13T12:40:26Z")

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Don’t mamas regularly “nibble” on their babies toes? I’m a pediatric nurse with no children (and no desire to have them), but I find myself with cute babies and toddlers thinking, I want to nom those widdle corncob toes! NOM NOM NOM!"

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**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-i-could-eat-you-up/279395/23 "2013-04-13T13:23:17Z")

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It’s the same reason that people kind of want to hurt cute things by pulling on their nose or twisting their cheeks. Humans are just bizarre.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-i-could-eat-you-up/279395/24 "2013-04-13T18:48:07Z")

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I absolutely want to eat cute things. At least bite/nibble them. I’m always nibbling on my son–he’s just so damn cute!

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