chip at

• Verbe à particule signifiant enlever de petits morceaux de quelque chose en frappant ou en grattant, ou critiquer de manière persistante et graduelle, minant la confiance ou la détermination de quelqu'un.

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

indénombrable · intransitif · phrasal, inséparable

1. Break small piecesinformal

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

   écailler

   • 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.

   Synonymescarvechip away atchiselpeck atwhittle

2. Gradually reduce or undermineinformal

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

   rogner

   • 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.

   Synonymescorrodediminisheat awayerodegnaw atunderminewear awaywhittle away

   Antonymesaugmentbolsterbuildcementfortifyintensifyreinforcerepairrestorestrengthen

Verbe de basechip