whittle away
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To gradually reduce, diminish, or erode something by removing small parts or amounts over time. It implies a slow, persistent process of reduction.
Usage
This verb is typically used with an object, often followed by "at." It describes a slow, piece-by-piece reduction of something tangible (like wood) or intangible (like resources, confidence, or time). - The primary structure is: to whittle away [something] or to whittle away at [something].
Examples
- Direct Object:
- The constant criticism began to whittle away her self-esteem.
- Poor financial decisions can whittle away your savings.
- With "at":
- The sculptor whittled away at the block of wood for hours.
- New regulations are whittling away at the company's profits.
Advanced Usage
- "to whittle away the hours/days": To spend time, often in a leisurely or idle manner, making it seem to pass or be reduced.
- We whittled away the afternoon chatting on the porch.
Variants and Related Words
- Whittle down (phrasal verb): Often used synonymously with "whittle away," especially to mean reducing the size or number of something.
- We need to whittle down the list of candidates.
- Whittle (verb): The base form, meaning to carve wood by cutting small slices from it.
Synonyms
- Erode: To gradually wear away.
- Diminish: To make or become less.
- Pare down: To reduce something, especially by removing parts.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Chip away at: To gradually and persistently reduce something.
- She chipped away at the large project by completing small tasks each day.
Related Idioms
- Nibble away at: To consume or reduce something slowly in small amounts.
- Inflation nibbles away at the value of your money.
Verb
- cut away in small pieces