Generally we scoff at and make fun of politicians but still vote for them. Are they scoffing at us?

to eat greedily

26 minutes ago, Zombie said:

to eat greedily

Maybe you're thinking of "scarf down"?  "Scarf down" is an informal, American English phrasal verb that means to eat something quickly and eagerly. It suggests a rapid and perhaps somewhat unrestrained consumption of food. 

1 hour ago, Bill W said:

Maybe you're thinking of "scarf down"?  "Scarf down" is an informal, American English phrasal verb that means to eat something quickly and eagerly. It suggests a rapid and perhaps somewhat unrestrained consumption of food. 

According to my Macquarie Dictionary a colloquial use of scoff is to eat quickly and greedily. Seems we are looking at differences in use between American English, Australian English and possibly British English.

31 minutes ago, Paladin said:

According to my Macquarie Dictionary a colloquial use of scoff is to eat quickly and greedily. Seems we are looking at differences in use between American English, Australian English and possibly British English.

Thank you, @Paladin, I wasn't aware of this colioquial use of the term scoff.    Isn't it interesting how English has developed differently in the development in British English and its offshoots in America and Australia.  

2 hours ago, drpaladin said:

I'd imagine scoff vs scarf emerged from the non'rhotic differences in English.

words evolve - like viruses

and spread - like memes

scaff OED: “to eat voraciously” earliest English usage 1762, unknown origin

scoff OED: “to eat voraciously” earliest English usage 1798 (variant /alteration of scaff)

scarf OED: “food” earliest American usage 1932 (variant /alteration of scoff /scaff)