eat away

eat away

To erode or wear something away. Don't use that harsh cleaner—it will eat away at a soft metal like this.
See also: away, eat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

eat something away

to erode something; to consume something bit by bit. The acid ate the finish away. It ate away the finish.
See also: away, eat
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • are we away
  • Are we away?
  • away with (someone or something)
  • away with something
  • breeze away
  • crumble away
  • drain away
  • draw away
  • do away with
  • do away with (someone, something, or oneself)
References in periodicals archive
The holes can eat away the cartilage that divides the nose.
Because the bacterial infections behind periodontal disease provoke an immune reaction that can eat away the jawbone, dentist Bruce A.
Council planners fear the scheme will eat away at the green land which separates Bedworth from Coventry.
As urban sprawl begins to eat away at every part of America, everyone will begin searching for knowledge and ways to reach viable solutions.
You can buy Treasuries through your broker or your bank, but the transaction fee you have to pay will eat away at your final profit.
While there is still a large amount of vacant space overhanging the market, there is also a backlog of space needs, unfilled during the Gulf crisis, that is beginning to eat away at it.
Scientists once thought the inclusions at the surface dissolve into liquids and produce corrosive chemicals that eat away the surrounding metal.
Flames had begun to eat away at a ceiling immediately below the boys' bedroom when the alarm was activated.
Those fees will ultimately eat away at your profit.
Acid from fruits, juices and soft drinks can also eat away the outer layer of tooth enamel.
180), is accumulating in the atmosphere and can eat away at the stratospheric ozone layer.