CHIP AWAY AT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chip away at mean? 

• CHIP AWAY AT (verb)
  The verb CHIP AWAY AT has 1 sense:

1. remove or withdraw gradually:

  Familiarity information: CHIP AWAY AT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHIP AWAY AT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Remove or withdraw gradually:

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

chip away; chip away at

Context example:

These new customs are chipping away at the quality of life

Hypernyms (to "chip away at" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something