chip at

• Фразовый глагол, означающий многократно откалывать мелкие кусочки от чего-либо, или настойчиво критиковать, подрывая чью-то уверенность или решимость.

A phrasal verb meaning to repeatedly break small pieces off something, or to persistently criticize or erode someone's confidence or resolve.

uncountable · intransitive · phrasal, inseparable

1. Break small piecesinformal

   To break off small pieces from a hard surface, often repeatedly.

   Откалывать

   • He chipped at the ice block with a pickaxe.
   • The sculptor chipped at the marble to shape the statue.
   • She chipped at the old paint on the window frame.

   Synonymscarvechip away atchiselpeck atwhittle

2. Gradually reduce or undermineinformal

   To slowly and persistently reduce, weaken, or damage something.

   Постепенно уменьшать или подрывать

   • Constant criticism chipped at his confidence.
   • The high costs are chipping at the company's profits.
   • She chipped at his resolve with her persistent arguments.

   Synonymscorrodediminisheat awayerodegnaw atunderminewear awaywhittle away

   Antonymsaugmentbolsterbuildcementfortifyintensifyreinforcerepairrestorestrengthen

Base verbchip