Cool MateConsume vs They take the poison themselves
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consume
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
They take the poison themselves
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Consume
| Consume | They take the poison themselves | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsjuːm/","/kənˈsjuːmz/","/kənˈsjuːmd/","/kənˈsjuːmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsuːm/","/kənˈsuːmz/","/kənˈsuːmd/","/kənˈsuːmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ teɪk ðə ˈpɔɪzən ðəmˈsɛlvz//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ teɪk ðə ˈpɔɪzən ðɛmˈsɛlvz// |
| Meaning | To eat or drink something or to use up something. | They use the poison by themselves. |
| Example | We need to consume less energy to help the environment. | They take the poison themselves to avoid any suspicion. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consume food, consume resources, consume energy, consume alcohol, consume information | take poison, toxic substance, self-inflicted harm |
| Antonyms | produce, generate | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'consume' with 'use'; they can mean different things., Using 'consuming' as an incorrect verb form without an object., Mixing up the noun form 'consumption' with 'consume.' | Confusing with 'they take the poison for themselves', which has a different meaning., Using 'poison' metaphorically without clarifying it refers to a literal substance., Incorrectly using 'take' with subjects that don't engage in direct action. |
| Usage notes | Use 'consume' in contexts related to food, energy, or resources. It's appropriate in both spoken and written language, but avoid it in very casual conversation where simpler words like 'eat' or 'drink' might be better. | Use in neutral contexts when referring to self-consumption or self-administration of substances. Avoid in light or casual discussions. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Consume vs They take the poison themselves
What's the difference between Consume and They take the poison themselves?
Consume: To eat or drink something or to use up something. They take the poison themselves: They use the poison by themselves.
Which is more common: Consume and They take the poison themselves?
Consume is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Consume: We need to consume less energy to help the environment. They take the poison themselves: They take the poison themselves to avoid any suspicion.
Can I use Consume and They take the poison themselves interchangeably?
Not always. Consume and They take the poison themselves are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.