chew up
1. To masticate food. A noun or pronoun can be used between "chew" and "up." This meat is a little tough—I'm having a hard time chewing it up.
2. To cause injury or destruction, as by a sharp or powerful object or machine. A noun or pronoun can be used between "chew" and "up." Be careful handling that food processor—the blades are sharp enough to chew up your hands. Once you turn on the blender, it'll chew up those strawberries in seconds.
chew someone or something up
to damage or ruin someone or something by pinching, grinding, biting, etc. Stay away from the mower blade or it will chew you up. The lawn mower chewed up the flowers.
chew something up
to grind food with the teeth until it can be swallowed. You had better chew that stuff up well. Please chew up your food well.