eat someone alive

verb4

1. •
   To consume a prey animal that is still alive, as many predators do.
2. •
   (informal) To criticize harshly or rebuke strongly.

   • However, the album never even made it onto the record charts, and the critics ate her alive. — 2001
3. •
   (informal) To bite repeatedly.

   • You may find that in June it rains so hard the streets are filled with a foot of mud and the mosquitoes eat people alive, but in October the place is beautiful. — 1992
4. •
   (informal) To overwhelm or consume someone.

   • She shook her head wearily, the guilt eating her alive. — 2006