ate (and left no crumbs)
phrase
performed or did perfectly or impressively
What does ate (and left no crumbs) mean?
If it is said that someone ate or ate and left no crumbs, they have performed or done something perfectly or impressively, whether that be singing, dancing, or dressing fashionably and looking good, etc. In other words, they’ve done something flawlessly, as well as it could possibly be done.
Examples of ate (and left no crumbs)
These pictures prove Cynthia Erivo ate and left no crumbs on the ‘Wicked’ press tour
—(headline), Out Magazine, 19 Nov. 2024
I’m sorry but my baby sister ate in her staff photo. A natural beauty!
—I forgot how bad my sister ate on that ‘Put It on Da Floor’ remix verse for a second.
—“The best man and I were kind of seeing who could outdo each other with their speech,” she added. “When I made the joke, the front row erupted in laughter, and the best man made it even funnier by pointing to the aunties in the audience.” The video gained some serious attention on TikTok where people shared their thoughts in the comments. “SHE ATE and left no crumbs,” said viewer jay.e …
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Where does ate (and left no crumbs) come from?
Ate and ate and left no crumbs originated (as did the verb slay used with a similar meaning) in New York City’s Ballroom scene, a Black and Latino LGBTQ+ subculture, and began appearing on social media in the mid-2010s.
How is ate (and left no crumbs) used?
All uses are highly complimentary. As a verb, ate sometimes takes an object (as in “ate that up”) and sometimes does not (as in “she really ate with that one”). There are also many variations on the fuller phrase ate and left no crumbs.
Just saw Gladiator, Joe Quinn ATE and left not a single crumb. Not a one.
—The fit is fitting. Ate that up and left zero crumbs.
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Sometimes ate is omitted altogether, leaving only left no crumbs.
One fan tweeted, “Beyoncé knew exactly what she was doing”, while another added, “BEYONCÉ LEFT NO CRUMBS.” We have to agree.
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Present-tense uses are less common, but possible.
My nail tech will eat and leave no crumbs every time!
—AoC did eat and leave no crumbs
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Ate down is another related construction used especially in African American English slang.
This is why, even though we’ve mostly seen Serena rocking lengthy braids or other protective styles, this collab still hits such a unique niche for Black girls who have layered requirements when it comes to our hair. … Her beau, Kordell, also ate down, giving us some of the most varied male hair looks we’ve seen on the show.
—Embracing more of a casual New Yorker, at-home aesthetic with his patented NYC starter kit: Brown Advisory Board Crystal sweats, a durag and hyper fly black shades, Brooklyn’s own Joey BadA$$ ate down and devoured his performance with grace and humility.
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