whittle (something) out of (something)
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.
- whittle out of
- 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