たべかける

たべかける【食べ掛ける】

begin [start] eating.

●ご飯を半分食べかけたところで呼び出された. He was called out before finishing his meal [leaving half his food untouched].

・その料理を二口三口食べかけたところで, 彼女は話し始めた. When she'd eaten a few mouthfuls of the food, she began to talk.