whittle out of

whittle (something) out of (something)

To create some shape by shaving small bits from a piece of some material. He whittled a little toy horse out of the block of wood. The kids are out back whittling animals out of bars of soap.
See also: of, out, whittle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

whittle something out of something

to carve something out of something. The young man whittled a small boat out of wood. Can you whittle an elephant out of this chunk of wood?
See also: of, out, whittle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • whittle (something) out of (something)
  • to bits
  • in bits and pieces
  • piece of change
  • two-bit
  • love (someone or something) to bits
  • fly apart
  • whittled
  • make (one's) beard
  • bits and pieces