chew the cud

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chew the cud (third-person singular simple present chews the cud, present participle chewing the cud, simple past and past participle chewed the cud)

1. (agriculture) To ruminate (of ruminant animals).
2. (figuratively, idiomatic, of a person) To meditate or ponder before answering; to be deep in thought; to ruminate.
   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page number, or |part=Prologue, I to VII, or conclusion)”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:

     chewed the thrice turned cud of wrath

   • 1963, J P Donleavy, A Singular Man, published 1963 (USA), page 46:

     George sat chewing the cud over matters. Unhappy memories.

• See also Thesaurus:ponder

• chew the fat