Destroy gradually, erode; also, worry one constantly. For example, The sea has been eating away at the outer banks for years, or The fact that he failed the test is eating away at him. [Early 1800s]
eat away at
| Idioms: eat away at |
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 | corrode |
| corrodiate |
| begnaw |
Help us answer these
 | What are chemicals that eat away metal? |
| Why do They aways eat turey for Thanksgiving? |
| To eat away or be eaten away especially by chemical action? |
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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