chip away
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away
Meanings
Gradually reduce something a little at a time
Why “away”? Something slowly becomes weaker until it is gone.
“They chipped away at the debt.”
“Workers chipped away at the ice on the steps.”
Don't confuse with
Chip away means gradually reduce something a little at a time. Chip off means break a small piece from something.
Test yourself
“They chipped away at the debt.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
chip off
A contrast learners often mix up
Break a small piece from something
die away
Same away pattern: fading
Lose intensity until silent
drift away
Same away pattern: fading
Slip out of awareness slowly; Gradually lose contact with a person or group
eat away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually destroy something by erosion or worry
ebb away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually weaken or recede
explain away
Same away pattern: fading
Give reasons that make a problem seem less serious
fade away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually become less visible, audible or strong
fall away
Same away pattern: fading
Decrease in number or amount
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