Definition

Verb phrase: - To become less effective, convincing, or tolerable over time; to deteriorate or weaken due to repeated use, strain, or exposure. - To have one's patience, welcome, or effect diminished or exhausted.

Usage

The phrase "wear thin" describes a situation where something gradually loses its initial strength, novelty, or acceptability. It is often used for intangible things like patience, excuses, or goodwill.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to wear thin on someone": To become increasingly irritating or unacceptable to a specific person.
  • Her cheerful optimism was beginning to wear thin on her more cynical colleagues.

Variants and Related Words

• Wear out (verb phrase): To use something until it is no longer usable or effective. Often used for physical objects but can apply to patience.
  • The constant stress wore out the team's morale.
• Threadbare (adjective): Literally, (of cloth) thin and tattered with age; figuratively, (of an idea, excuse) used so often as to be no longer effective.
  • His arguments were threadbare and unconvincing.

Synonyms

• Deteriorate: To become progressively worse.
• Weaken: To reduce in strength or intensity.
• Fray: (Figuratively) To show the effects of strain.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Wear down: To overcome resistance through persistent pressure or attrition.
  • The negotiators hoped to wear down their opponents with endless discussions.
• Wear off: To diminish gradually and disappear.
  • The painkiller's effects began to wear off after a few hours.

Related Idioms

• To try someone's patience: To test the limits of someone's tolerance, similar to the effect described by "wear thin."
  • The endless delays tried the patience of even the calmest passengers.
• To have a short fuse: To have a tendency to lose patience quickly, making it easier for something to "wear thin."
  • Be careful what you say; he has a very short fuse.

Verb

1. deteriorate through use or stress
   • The constant friction wore out the cloth