What Does “Wear away at sb” Mean?
“Wear away at sb” means to gradually weaken someone’s feelings, patience, or confidence over time through constant pressure or worry.
Introduction
The phrase “wear away at sb” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the slow but steady effect of something negative on a person. It often refers to feelings like doubt, anxiety, or frustration that build up and reduce someone’s strength or resolve. Understanding the “wear away at sb meaning” helps learners recognize when something is causing a gradual emotional or mental decline in someone. This phrase is useful in both spoken and written English, especially when discussing stress, relationships, or difficult situations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: wear away at somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to slowly weaken or damage someone’s feelings or patience
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Wear away at sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate “wear away” and place the object in the middle.
- Correct: The stress wears away at him.
- Incorrect: The stress wears him away at.
Pattern: wear away at + somebody
How to Use Wear away at sb?
Use “wear away at sb” when you want to describe how something slowly weakens a person emotionally or mentally. It usually refers to negative feelings like worry, fear, or sadness. The phrase emphasizes a gradual process, not a sudden change.
Example contexts include stress at work, ongoing conflicts, or persistent doubts.
Examples
Here are some examples showing “wear away at sb in a sentence”:
- The constant criticism from his boss began to wear away at his confidence.
- Her worries about the exam results wore away at her peace of mind.
- Years of loneliness wore away at his happiness.
- Financial problems slowly wore away at their relationship.
- The long wait wore away at the patience of the customers.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse the placement of the object or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: The stress wears him away at.
- Correct: The stress wears away at him.
- Incorrect: The problem wears away his.
- Correct: The problem wears away at him.
Remember, “wear away at” must be followed directly by the person affected.
Differences / Synonyms
“Wear away at sb” is similar to phrases like “get to sb” or “eat away at sb,” but there are subtle differences:
- Get to sb: Usually means to annoy or upset someone, often suddenly.
- Eat away at sb: Also means to gradually harm or trouble someone emotionally, very close in meaning to “wear away at sb.”
- Wear away at sb: Focuses on the slow, persistent weakening of feelings or patience.
Use “wear away at sb” when emphasizing a gradual process rather than a quick effect.
Common Collocations
When using “wear away at sb,” certain words often appear with it to describe what causes the effect:
- Stress: Mental or emotional strain
- Doubt: Uncertainty or lack of confidence
- Worry: Anxiety about something
- Fear: Feeling afraid
- Patience: Capacity to accept delay or problems
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wear away at sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a natural conversation using “wear away at sb”:
Anna: I’ve noticed John seems really tired lately.
Mark: Yeah, the constant pressure at work is really wearing away at him.
Anna: I hope he finds a way to relax soon.
Practice
Try this exercise to test your understanding of “wear away at sb”:
Complete the sentence:
“The long hours of waiting _____ his patience.”
- a) wore away at
- b) wore him away at
- c) wore away
- d) wore at
Answer: a) wore away at
FAQ
- Q: Can “wear away at sb” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “The stress wore away at her over time.” - Q: Is “wear away at” separable?
A: No, the object must come after “wear away at.” - Q: What feelings can “wear away at sb” describe?
A: It often describes worry, doubt, patience, confidence, or happiness. - Q: Can “wear away at sb” be used formally?
A: Yes, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Is “wear away at sb” the same as “wear out sb”?
A: No, “wear out sb” means to exhaust someone physically or mentally, while “wear away at sb” focuses on gradual emotional weakening.
