wear away at
wear away at (someone or something)
1. To erode, dissolve, or strip away something as a result of prolonged exposure to some destructive element or force. The ocean waves have been wearing away at these cliffs for millennia. Rust wore away at the car over the years.
2. To weaken or diminish someone's capacity for something. The kids' constant pleas and complaints wore away at my resolve not to get them more ice cream. Her patience was worn away by all the silly questions.
3. To discourage or dishearten someone over time; to gradually sap someone of their energy, conviction, enthusiasm, joy, etc. I know that spending so many years working at that soulless, dead-end job wore away at my dad. The pressure and workload of college is really starting to wear away at me.
See also: away, wear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
wear away at someone or something
to annoy or diminish someone or something. Facing the same problems year after year was wearing away at the president of the company. The rain wore away at the stone through time.
See also: away, wear
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- wear away at (someone or something)
- wear off
- wear off )
- wear away
- eaten
- wear down
- chew away
- eat away
- farmer's tan
- let loose something