What Does “Chip sth away” Mean?
“Chip sth away” means to gradually remove small pieces from something or to slowly reduce or weaken something over time.
Introduction
The phrase “chip sth away” is a useful phrasal verb in English that describes the process of slowly breaking off small parts of an object or gradually reducing something. The “sth” stands for “something,” which means you can replace it with any noun. For example, you might chip away at a block of ice or chip away at a large problem. Understanding the chip sth away meaning helps learners use it in both literal and figurative ways. It often implies steady effort or a slow process, which makes it common in everyday speech and writing.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: chip something away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: gradually remove small parts or reduce something slowly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Chip sth away” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “chip” and “away” or after “away.”
- chip something away (correct) – e.g., She chipped the ice away.
- chip away something (also correct but less common) – e.g., She chipped away the ice.
Note: “Chip away” without an object is uncommon because it usually needs “something” to show what is being chipped.
How to Use “Chip sth away”?
You use “chip sth away” when talking about removing small pieces from a hard surface or when describing a slow reduction of something abstract like confidence, support, or a problem.
It is often used in two ways:
- Literal: physically breaking small parts off an object.
- Figurative: slowly weakening or reducing something over time.
Examples
- She chipped away at the old paint to prepare the wall for repainting.
- The constant criticism chipped away his confidence.
- Workers chipped away the ice from the frozen road.
- Years of neglect had chipped away the building’s foundation.
- Chip sth away in a sentence: The team’s effort helped chip away the opposition’s lead.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She chipped away the.
- Correct: She chipped away the ice.
- Incorrect: They chip away slowly it.
- Correct: They chip it away slowly.
Remember to always include the object and place it correctly.
Differences / Synonyms
- Chip away vs. Wear away: “Chip away” means breaking pieces off, often by force. “Wear away” means gradual erosion or loss over time, usually by friction.
- Chip away vs. Break down: “Break down” is more general and can mean stopping work or falling apart, while “chip away” focuses on gradual removal or reduction.
- Chip away vs. Eat away: “Eat away” is similar but often used for corrosion or damage caused by chemicals or emotions.
Common Collocations
- chip away at the ice
- chip away at the paint
- chip away at a problem
- chip away at confidence
- chip away at support
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of chip sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: The old statue looks damaged. What happened?
Tom: Years of weather have chipped away the stone surface.
Anna: Oh, I see. It must take a long time.
Tom: Yes, it’s a slow process, but you can really see the difference now.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “chip away”:
They slowly _______ the old paint _______ to prepare the wall.
- a) chipped away
- b) chipped it away
- c) chip away
- d) chip it away
FAQs
- Q: Can “chip away” be used without an object?
A: Usually no. It needs an object to show what is being chipped away.
- Q: Is “chip away” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can “chip away” be used figuratively?
A: Yes, it often describes gradual reduction of abstract things like confidence or support.
- Q: What is the difference between “chip away” and “break down”?
“Chip away” means gradual removal of small parts, while “break down” means to stop functioning or collapse.
- Q: How do you pronounce “chip away”?
It is pronounced /tʃɪp əˈweɪ/ with the stress on “away.”
