전화을 먹다

You use this phrase when you want to call someone out. It's usually a bit punchy and direct. You can ask a question like 왜 내 전화 먹어? (Why are you eating my call?). Or you can use it as a warning in a text. It's very common in casual conversation. You'll often hear it among younger people or close friends. It adds a bit of flavor to your frustration. It's much more expressive than just saying 'you didn't answer.'

Use this with your close friends or siblings. It's perfect for when someone is avoiding a conversation. Use it when you've called multiple times without an answer. It works well in a playful, teasing context too. If your friend finally picks up after five tries, lead with this. It's great for lighthearted confrontation. You can also use it when complaining to a third party about someone else.

Never use this with a professor or your boss. It is way too informal and sounds accusatory. If you say this to a senior, it sounds like you're scolding them. Avoid it in professional emails or formal meetings. Also, don't use it if someone actually lost their phone. That would just be awkward. It requires the assumption that the person saw the call and chose to ignore it.

In Korea, the verb 먹다 (to eat) is incredibly versatile. It's not just for food! You 'eat' your age every New Year's Day. You 'eat' a goal in a soccer match. You even 'eat' an insult if you ignore it. This reflects a very physical way of processing experiences. Using it for ignored calls implies the recipient 'consumed' the notification. They took it in but didn't give anything back. It's a uniquely Korean way of visualizing communication.

The most common variation is 전화를 씹다. This literally means 'to chew a call.' It is much stronger and more common among teenagers. If 먹다 is 'swallowing' the call, 씹다 is 'grinding it up.' You might also hear 읽씹 for text messages. This means 'reading and chewing' (reading but not replying). Both are part of the same 'eating' metaphor family.