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Chip Away

What Does "Chip Away" Mean?

homeidiomsChip Away
"Chip away" is an English idiom. It means "to gradually make progress or reduce something."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "chip away" used in a sentence:
  • We've been chipping away at the debt for years.
  • If you chip away at this problem each day, you'll solve it eventually.
  • They managed to chip away the lead until they were ahead.
meaning for chip away

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Chip Away" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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