rot away

Related to rot away: rot off, rot out

rot away

1. To decompose and decay over time. I bought a bunch of fruit, but it just sat in the bowl rotting away for several weeks, until I finally just threw it all out. It's a shame to see such a grand old house go unused and rot away like that.
2. To fall off of or away from something as a result of decay or decomposition. The disease causes patients' flesh to rot away in large patches. The door completely rotted away from the frame.
See also: away, rot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rot away

to decompose; to decompose and fall away. The fallen trees rotted away and surrendered their nutrients to the soil. As the wood rotted away, it became rich humus.
See also: away, rot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • fall into decay
  • rot away at (someone or something)
  • bunch of fives
  • a bunch of fives
  • a whole bunch
  • bunch
  • go the way of (something)
  • rot off
  • bushel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
References in periodicals archive
The Class A substance is 10 times stronger than heroin and can cause large amounts of flesh to rot away with just one small injection.
Krokodil: The horrific effects of flesh rotting drug that has hit UK; WARNING VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES The 'world's deadliest drug' leaves users with their skin flaking away and pus-filled open wounds
Unearthing such fossils is rare because fragile remains quickly disintegrate and rot away. The discovery was reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
300 million year old fly fossil found; SCIENCE
Over time the felt and the wooden pegs that hold it in place will rot away having created a more hospitable environment for the heather to grow and prevent further erosion of the peat.
It felt like a good way to heal injured countryside
Each bag can take anything between 400 and 1,000 years to rot away.
City's ban on plastic bags
Is there any way I can carve out the rot and somehow support the tree by putting concrete or another filler like I've seen, or am I better off leaving the trees to continue to rot away?
Fill in tree rot?
If untreated, decaying teeth will eventually rot away or fall out.
Prehistoric trips to the dentist
The other is to rot away and thereby give birth to new worms.
All the world's a stage: Daniel Birnbaum on Christoph Schlingensief
The mud walls of those buildings tended to melt and rot away without the waterproofing layer of clapboard.
Changes in environmental forces drive mold growth
The SMI Biobag is made from unbleached cotton, manufactured in a dedicated production facility and, when eventually disposed of, will rot away harmlessly.
The environment welcomes the SMI Biobag. (Packaging Equipment)
"Older suburbs across the country are reinventing themselves as full-fledged cities and showing that they don't just rot away as new communities spring up," said Samuel Staley, project director of the study.
Suburbs: The New Urban Frontier? (News Extra)
Harriers manager Jan Molby sees no reason to make changes tonight to the side that stopped the rot away from home with a creditable 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United last Saturday.
Broughton set to quit Harriers
Others help dead things rot away and enrich the soil.
If every living thing is good, what good are flies, fleas, and mosquitoes?
You can transplant into the soil and they rot away.
plant spring containersHow to... Gardening
Llanbleddian Gardens could be pretty If people had respect for their adopted city And put rubbish out on collection day So I wouldn't have to see it rot away.
Ode to a filthy capital city
The situation is so dire farmers now say they are going to be forced to sit and watch their crops rot away.
Voice of the IRISH SUNDAY Mirror: Spud the bawl