Phrase: he could be back with his ex-girlfriend

[Maxx]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #268 "Eating Idioms", question 7

He's eating his heart out for his ex-girlfriend -- means: He wishes ..........

(a) he could be back with his ex-girlfriend
(b) his ex-girlfriend would go away
(c) he could help his ex-girlfriend
(d) he could understand his ex-girlfriend

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #268 "Eating Idioms", answer 7

He's eating his heart out for his ex-girlfriend -- means: He wishes he could be back with his ex-girlfriend.

Correct answer: (a) he could be back with his ex-girlfriend
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does this mean to "out" of his heart?

Maxx

[lost_soul]

I guess, "out" here serves as an intensifier of the main verb "to eat"
You can say "He works his guts/ass out/off" - he works very hard

Generally speaking, "to eat one's heart out" is a set expression, meaning "to suffer silently"
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Alex

A native speaker of Russian