English: “And they ate.” Do you really think they ate? Rather, say: it appeared as though they ate and drank.
On the daf / in context: The Gemara immediately qualifies the plain statement “and they ate,” teaching that angels do not actually consume food; the appearance of eating was sufficient for the hospitality.
Type of Learning
Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The verb is understood as describing an appearance rather than actual consumption.
What Is Learned
The angels did not truly eat; the verse means that it appeared as though they ate and drank, preserving both the narrative and the nature of angels.