下面的例子是一个朋友在告诉他的朋友关于家里发生的不幸的事：
"Ever since grandmother died,grandfather has been eating his heart out--he's lost all interest in life and won't even get out of bed to eat."
这个人说：“自从祖母去世后,祖父非常伤心,他对生活失去了一切兴趣,都不愿意起床吃饭.”
To eat one's heart out还可以用在另一种场合,也就是半开玩笑地让别人对你产生妒忌.你听了下面这个例子就会明白它的意思了.这是一个大学生在对他的要好朋友说话：
"Hey,Pete,you know that girl in the physics class you like so much,the one who won't pay any attention to you?Well,eat your heart out,buddy--I'm taking her out for dinner and a movie Saturday night."
他说：“喂,彼得,你知道那个和我们一起上物理课的女孩吗?那个你非常喜欢,但是她从来也没注意过你的女孩?这下好了,你去伤心去吧,我星期六请她出去吃晚饭、看电影!”