to feed off each other
4
5.1
- phrasal verb
:
alimentarse mutuamente
- During the meeting, team members fed off each other's enthusiasm, creating a positive atmosphere.
- feed off each other's energy
Examples
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With an even distribution of tenors, baritones, bass singers, and beatboxers, the Call Our Bluff singers harmonized and fed off each other's energy to deliver a lively performance.
Blog text (4) -
They've begun to feed off each other.
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We feed off each other just the same.
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Here they can feed off each other.
Blog text (14) -
I believed in his vision, and we fed off each other to make it a reality.
Blog text (1) -
Allow them to inspire each other and feed off each other's energy.
Blog text (15) -
What's worse is that these two sides seem to feed off each other.
Blog text (5) -
The two are interconnected and feed off each other.
Blog text (24) -
(Senior wide receiver) Jamal (Miles) caught some balls, (junior tight end) Chris (Coyle) caught some balls, and we were all feeding off each other's energy.
Blog text (5) -
FAR FROM INHABITING nine isolated cages, the justices interact, feed off each other, provoke, and annoy each other.
Academic text (2007)
Synonyms
To make each other feel more lively and creative
Antonyms
How Energetic
177
4.3
4
5.1
- Informal
8
3.9
293
2.7
728
2.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is a straightforward metaphorical extension of 'feed' (take nourishment) + 'off' (from a source) with 'each other' marking reciprocity, so learners who know the words can infer that people are deriving energy or motivation from one another. Because this requires a figurative mapping rather than a purely literal composition, it is not fully transparent but clearly recognizable, so I rate it as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Feed off each other comes from the image of two living things taking energy from the same source: imagine two flames that grow when they touch, where feed means to take energy and each other shows both give and take. So, it means people or groups 'gain energy, ideas, or strong feelings from one another', making each other's actions stronger.