pack on (the) pounds

idiom

chiefly US, informal
: to gain weight or a certain amount of weight
Americans are continuing to pack on the pounds.
He hopes to pack on 20 pounds of muscle before the competition.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Our bodies tend to pack on pounds easily because humankind long lived with scarcity — getting fat was an evolutionary response that helped people get through the lean times, literally. —Joel Mathis, The Week, 1 June 2021 Bingham, like Tillman a Grand Rapids native, continues to struggle to pack on pounds. —Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 13 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pack on (the) pounds.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near pack on (the) pounds

pack one's bags

pack on (the) pounds

pack out

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Cite this Entry

“Pack on (the) pounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pack%20on%20%28the%29%20pounds. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

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