Final answer:
The phrase "August chewed more than she bit off" is a play on the idiom "to bite off more than one can chew," implying that August was able to manage more than was expected.
Step-by-step explanation:
To explain "August chewed more than she bit off" is to interpret a variation of the common phrase "to bite off more than one can chew." The phrase typically means that someone has taken on more responsibility or a task that is too big for them to handle.
The presented sentence suggests a reversal of the typical experience, implying that despite biting off a considerable amount, August was, in fact, capable of adequately managing or 'chewing' through the workload.
This phrase can be a metaphor for various situations where an individual surprises others by handling a challenge or workload more effectively than initially expected.
Characteristically, such idioms are used to convey complex ideas succinctly and are often encountered in English literature or everyday speech to express human experiences and behaviors metaphorically.
For example, if someone is asked to complete a large project in a short amount of time, they might be said to have 'chewed more than they bit off.' It is important to note that this phrase is not meant to be taken literally, but rather, it is a figurative expression used to convey a specific idea or situation.