eat away
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away
Meanings
Gradually destroy something by erosion or worry
Why “away”? Something slowly becomes weaker until it is gone.
“Acid ate away the metal.”
“Rust ate away the old gate.”
“The secret ate away at him for years.”
Don't confuse with
Eat away means gradually destroy something by erosion or worry. Eat off means eat food directly from a particular surface.
Test yourself
“Acid ate away the metal.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
eat off
A contrast learners often mix up
Eat food directly from a particular surface
chip away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually reduce something a little at a time
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
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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