diet
diet — noun
1. the range of what a person, animal, or group usually eats and drinks day after d
the range of what a person, animal, or group usually eats and drinks day after day
The doctor asked Hoa about her daily diet and exercise routine.
daily diet + exercise routine — typical pattern
Yan's grandmother sticks to a traditional diet of rice, pickled vegetables, and grilled fish.
sticks to a traditional diet of + specific foods
The pandas at the zoo survive on a diet of bamboo shoots and leaves.
Nora's diet changed a lot after she moved to Japan and discovered local markets.
- eating habits
less formal; describes patterns rather than a fixed selection of foods
- fare
more formal and literary; often refers to the food available in a particular place
- nourishment
focuses on the nutritional value rather than the range of foods
文法句型
diet + of + noun phrase
adjective + diet
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific type (a vegetarian diet, a Mediterranean diet); uncountable when speaking about the general concept (diet is important for health).
常見錯誤
2. a planned way of eating that restricts what or how much a person eats, usually t
a planned way of eating that restricts what or how much a person eats, usually to lose weight or to manage a health problem
Vikram started a low-carb diet after his doctor warned him about his blood sugar levels.
low-carb diet + health reason
Lakan started a juice-only diet but quit on day five when his coworkers ordered pizza.
started a [type] diet + quit + specific trigger event
Sivan went on a strict diet for two months before her sister's wedding.
After the surgery, Rachid was put on a liquid diet for ten days.
- weight-loss plan
more neutral and structured; does not carry the same cultural baggage as 'diet'
- eating regimen
more formal; often used in medical or fitness contexts
- binge
uncontrolled overeating, the opposite of restricted eating
文法句型
go on + a diet
be on + a diet
adjective + diet
用法筆記
The fixed expression 'on a diet' almost always means the person is currently following a weight-loss plan, not describing their usual food. The verbs 'go on,' 'be on,' 'start,' and 'follow' are frequently used with this sense.
常見錯誤
3. a steady or repeated experience of something, especially something negative or m
a steady or repeated experience of something, especially something negative or monotonous, that a person is exposed to over time
For months, the refugees lived on a diet of bad news and uncertainty.
a diet of + unpleasant experience
As a film critic, Ari is fed a steady diet of Hollywood action movies.
steady diet of + repeated exposure
Growing up on a farm, the children had a diet of only three TV channels.
Tariq felt he was raised on a diet of classical music against his will.
- daily dose
informal; carries the same idea of repeated exposure, often negative
- steady stream
neutral; describes continuous flow without the negative connotation
文法句型
a diet + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always follows the pattern 'a diet of + noun phrase.' The noun phrase usually describes something repetitive, limited, or unpleasant (bad news, violence, criticism), but can also be neutral (action movies, books).
常見錯誤
diet — adjective
1. describing a food or drink that has fewer calories, less sugar, or less fat than
describing a food or drink that has fewer calories, less sugar, or less fat than the regular version of the same product
Abigail ordered a diet soda with her meal instead of the regular one.
diet soda — reduced-sugar alternative
The supermarket has a whole section for diet products, including low-fat yogurt and sugar-free desserts.
diet products — broader category
Christopher switched to diet mayonnaise after his nutritionist told him to cut down on fat.
The cafe offers a diet version of its popular milkshake made with almond milk.
- low-calorie
more formally descriptive; can be used predicatively (this drink is low-calorie)
- light
common on US packaging; can also mean low in fat, sugar, or alcohol
- sugar-free
narrower meaning; specifically contains no sugar, not necessarily low-calorie
文法句型
diet + noun (product name)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). It is incorrect to say 'This soda is diet.' The word compares the product against a regular version; a 'diet soda' has fewer calories than regular soda, but may still contain some.
常見錯誤
diet — verb
1. to limit your food intake, typically when your goal is to drop body weight or ma
to limit your food intake, typically when your goal is to drop body weight or manage a medical condition
Alessia has been dieting for three weeks and has already lost four kilograms.
present perfect continuous: has been dieting + duration
Brandon prefers to exercise rather than diet because skipping meals makes him feel weak.
exercise rather than diet — contrasting verbs
Nadia is dieting under her doctor's supervision to bring her cholesterol down.
Yuna tried dieting for a month but could not keep it up while travelling.
- watch what you eat
less strict and less formal; implies awareness but not a rigid plan
- cut back
can apply to food or other things; implies reduction, not full restriction
文法句型
diet + for + duration
be + dieting
用法筆記
Almost always intransitive; you cannot 'diet something' (❌ 'He dieted sugar'). The -ing form 'dieting' is extremely common. In everyday conversation, the noun phrase 'go on a diet' is more frequent than the verb itself.