"watch what you're eating"

Posted by ESC on December 16, 2003

In Reply to: "Watch what you're eating" posted by al on December 16, 2003

: : As the holiday season progresses, one of my friends remarked that she had to 'really watch what she was eating'. Curious. Heard it many times and never really paid attention to the construction. Any thoughts on the history of this expression? And don't we all (sighted people) watch the food we put in our mouths all the time?

: First, I am sighted and more often than not pay no attention to what I am eating. Someone serves food and I consume it watching the TV or the crowd at the cafe. Second, MW online down the page, defination 3a, reports that "watch" means to "tend" and uses diet as an example.

I don't think just watching it does much good.

• "Watch what you're eating" R. Berg 17/December/03
  • "Watch what you're eating" Lotg 17/December/03