chip away
Definition
- Phrasal Verb:
- To remove small pieces from something gradually, often by chipping: The literal meaning refers to the act of breaking off small fragments from a hard material like stone, wood, or ice over time.
- To reduce or weaken something gradually and persistently: The figurative meaning describes the slow, steady process of making something less effective, complete, or strong through a series of small actions or changes.
Examples of Usage
Literal Meaning:
- The sculptor chipped away at the marble block for months.
- Ocean waves have chipped away at the base of the cliffs over centuries.
Figurative Meaning:
- The constant criticism began to chip away at her confidence.
- High inflation is chipping away at people's savings.
- These new regulations are chipping away at our personal freedoms.
Advanced Usage
"Chip away at": This is the most common construction. The preposition "at" is used to indicate the target or object being gradually reduced.
- We need to chip away at this large project one task at a time.
- The lawyer's cross-examination chipped away at the witness's credibility.
Concept of Persistent Effort: The phrase often implies sustained, patient effort toward a larger goal.
- He didn't solve the problem overnight; he chipped away at it until he found a solution.
Variants and Related Words
- Chip (verb): To break a small piece off something.
- Be careful not to chip the plate.
- Erode (verb): To gradually wear away. A close synonym for the figurative sense of "chip away."
- Public trust has been eroded by the scandal.
- Whittle away/down (phrasal verb): To reduce something gradually. A very similar idiom.
- They whittled away the lead until the game was tied.
Synonyms
- Erode
- Wear down
- Undermine (especially for figurative weakening)
- Diminish gradually
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Chip in: To contribute money or help.
- Everyone chipped in to buy a gift.
- Chip off: To break a piece off from the main part.
- A piece of paint chipped off the wall.
Related Idioms
- A chip off the old block: A person who is very similar to one of their parents.
- He's a chip off the old block, just like his father.
- Have a chip on one's shoulder: To be habitually angry or resentful.
- He's had a chip on his shoulder since he didn't get the promotion.
Verb
-
remove or withdraw gradually: "These new customs are chipping away at the quality of life"
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