chip away
To slowly break or remove little pieces of something over time, or to make slow but steady progress on something big.
Meanings
To break off small pieces from a hard surface through repeated striking.
"The stonemason chipped away at the rock face all morning to create the pathway."
To make slow but steady progress in reducing, overcoming, or completing something.
"If you chip away at your student loan each month, it will be gone before you know it."
"We just kept chipping away, game by game, and eventually we closed the gap."
To gradually undermine or diminish something such as confidence, authority, or a lead.
"The opposition kept chipping away at the government's majority until they finally lost their footing."
Often used with 'at': 'chip away at a problem.' Common in both literal (breaking stone) and figurative (overcoming challenges) contexts. The figurative use is motivational in tone — it implies persistence pays off.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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