1 B2 neutral
To scratch or scrape at a surface repeatedly and with effort.
"The dog clawed away at the back door until someone let it in."
inseparable
claw away
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To scratch or scrape at something persistently, or to struggle and work hard to achieve something.
In plain English
To keep scratching at something, or to keep trying very hard to get somewhere.
What does "claw away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To work or struggle persistently toward a goal, often from a disadvantaged position.
"The underdog team clawed away all match and finally equalized in the last minute."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use claws or fingers to scratch repeatedly in a direction away from oneself.
Actually means
To keep scratching at something, or to keep trying very hard to get somewhere.
Usage tip
Can be used literally (an animal clawing at a surface) or figuratively (working desperately to achieve a goal). The figurative use conveys effort and desperation.
Words that pair with "claw away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
surface ground top lead advantage position
How to conjugate "claw away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
claw away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
claws away
he/she/it
Past simple
clawed away
yesterday
Past participle
clawed away
have + pp
-ing form
clawing away
continuous
Hear "claw away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "claw away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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