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Waste Away

What Does "Waste Away" Mean?

homeidiomsWaste Away
"Waste away" is an English idiom. It means "to gradually become thinner and weaker over a period of time, especially because of an illness."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "waste away" used in a sentence:
  • She watched her father waste away due to the terminal disease.
  • He seemed to be wasting away in the last few months of his life.
  • Without proper care and nutrition, the animal started to waste away.
meaning for waste 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 "Waste 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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