- eat (away) at something
- eat (away) at somethingFig. to erode something. •
The acid ate away at the metal floor.
•Fingers have a mild acid that eats at the metal of the door handle.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
eat (away) at something
Look at other dictionaries:
eat away at something — eat away at (something) to reduce something by a little at a time. These bank fees eat away at my savings every month … New idioms dictionary
eat away at something — (or eat something away) erode or destroy something gradually the sun and wind eat away at the ice | prevents bone from being eaten away ■ use up (profits, resources, or time), esp. when they are intended for other purposes inflation can eat away… … Useful english dictionary
eat away at — (something) to reduce something by a little at a time. These bank fees eat away at my savings every month … New idioms dictionary
eat away — verb 1. remove soil or rock Rain eroded the terraces • Syn: ↑erode, ↑fret • Derivationally related forms: ↑erosive (for: ↑erode), ↑erosion ( … Useful english dictionary
eat away — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms eat away : present tense I/you/we/they eat away he/she/it eats away present participle eating away past tense ate away past participle eaten away eat away or eat into to gradually destroy something Within a… … English dictionary
eat something away or eat away at/into — erode or destroy something gradually. → eat … English new terms dictionary
eat — W1S1 [i:t] v past tense ate [et, eıt US eıt] past participle eaten [ˈi:tn] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(food)¦ 2¦(meal)¦ 3 eat your words 4 eat your heart out 5 eat somebody alive/eat somebody for breakfast 6¦(use)¦ 7 eat humble pie … Dictionary of contemporary English
tear away from something — tear (yourself) away (from (someone/something)) to force yourself to leave a person or activity. I m glad you managed to tear yourself away from the TV and come eat dinner with us! These video games offer plenty of action – you will hardly be… … New idioms dictionary
eat — [ it ] (past tense ate [ eıt ] ; past participle eat|en [ itn ] ) verb intransitive or transitive *** to put food into your mouth and swallow it: We sat on the grass and ate our sandwiches. Don t talk while you re eating. I ve eaten too much.… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
eat — ► VERB (past ate; past part. eaten) 1) put (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it. 2) (eat out or in) have a meal in a restaurant (or at home). 3) (eat something away or eat away at/into) gradually erode or des … English terms dictionary
tear yourself away from something — tear (yourself) away (from (someone/something)) to force yourself to leave a person or activity. I m glad you managed to tear yourself away from the TV and come eat dinner with us! These video games offer plenty of action – you will hardly be… … New idioms dictionary
