eat away at
To slowly hurt, damage, or worry someone or something, little by little.
Meanings
To gradually destroy or erode something physical through continuous chemical or natural action.
"Salt water was eating away at the iron hull of the old ship."
To cause persistent emotional distress or anxiety in someone, often without an obvious outward sign.
"The lie had been eating away at him for months, and he finally decided to confess."
"The guilt and the shame were eating away at me."
— Oprah Winfrey, interview discussing personal struggles (widely reported, various sources)
To slowly diminish or deplete a resource, amount, or quality.
"High inflation was eating away at people's purchasing power throughout the decade."
Commonly used in both physical and emotional/psychological contexts. The emotional use ('guilt was eating away at her') is extremely frequent in literature and everyday speech. The preposition 'at' is obligatory in this form.
Commonly used with
Forms
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