chip away at something

chip away at something
ˌchip aˈway at sth derived
to keep breaking small pieces off sth

He was chipping away at the stone.

(figurative)

They chipped away at the power of the government

(= gradually made it weaker)

.

Main entry:chipderived

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • chip away at — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you chip away at something such as an idea, a feeling, or a system, you gradually make it weaker or less likely to succeed by repeated efforts. [V P P n] Instead of an outright coup attempt, the rebels want to chip away at her… …   English dictionary

  • chip away — phrasal verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms chip away : present tense I/you/we/they chip away he/she/it chips away present participle chipping away past tense chipped away past participle chipped away 1) to gradually make something weaker,… …   English dictionary

  • chip away — verb remove or withdraw gradually: These new customs are chipping away at the quality of life • Syn: ↑chip away at • Hypernyms: ↑remove, ↑take, ↑take away, ↑withdraw • Verb Frames …   Useful english dictionary

  • chip away at — verb remove or withdraw gradually: These new customs are chipping away at the quality of life • Syn: ↑chip away • Hypernyms: ↑remove, ↑take, ↑take away, ↑withdraw • Verb Frames: Somebo …   Useful english dictionary

  • chip away at — gradually and relentlessly make (something) smaller or weaker: → chip …   English new terms dictionary

  • chip — chip1 W3S2 [tʃıp] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(food)¦ 2¦(computer)¦ 3¦(piece)¦ 4¦(mark)¦ 5 have a chip on your shoulder 6 when the chips are down 7 be a chip off the old block 8¦(game)¦ 9¦(sport)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chip — ► NOUN 1) a small, thin piece removed in the course of cutting or breaking a hard material. 2) a blemish left by the removal of such a piece. 3) chiefly Brit. a long rectangular piece of deep fried potato. 4) (also potato chip) chiefly N. Amer. a …   English terms dictionary

  • chip — chip1 [ tʃıp ] noun count ** ▸ 1 piece of potato ▸ 2 in computers ▸ 3 small piece ▸ 4 in games for money ▸ 5 in sport ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) usually plural AMERICAN a very thin round piece of potato cooked in hot oil and eaten cold. British crisp:… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • chip — 1 /tSIp/ noun (C) 1 MARK a small hole or mark on a plate, cup etc where a piece has broken off (+ in): There s a chip in this plate. 2 PIECE a small piece of wood, stone, metal etc that has broken off something: Wood chips covered the floor of… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • chip — [[t]tʃɪ̱p[/t]] ♦♦♦ chips, chipping, chipped 1) N COUNT: usu pl Chips are long, thin pieces of potato fried in oil or fat and eaten hot, usually with a meal. [BRIT] I had fish and chips in a cafe... Frank Browne shook more sauce over his chips.… …   English dictionary

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