gnaw (away) at (someone or something)
1. To chew on something, often biting off small pieces. The dog is just gnawing away at his new bone, happy as can be. The baby has been completely miserable lately, except for when he's gnawing away at a teething ring. I'm terrified to even say this out loud—but do you think rats are the ones that gnawed at our wires?
2. To bother someone or cause them worry or trepidation. His critical comments are really gnawing at me today—I can't stop thinking about them. Even though I do volunteer work now, it still gnaws at me that I can't help the homeless more. We've got six more innings to play here, son, so you can't let your error gnaw away at you for the rest of the game.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
gnaw (away) at someone or something
Lit. to chew at someone or something. I hear a mouse gnawing away at the wall. The mosquitoes are gnawing at me something awful.
gnaw (away) at someone
Fig. to worry someone; to create constant anxiety in someone. The thought of catching some horrible disease gnawed away at her. A lot of guilt gnawed at him day and night.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
gnaw at
v.1. To bite or chew on something, removing small pieces of it a bit at a time: The mice gnawed at the corner of the box until they had made a small hole in it.
2. To cause someone or something to have or feel persistent discomfort, anxiety, or guilt: His harsh criticism gnawed at me the rest of the day. Hunger was gnawing at my stomach.
gnaw away
v.1. To bite or chew something a bit at a time: The fox gnawed the tough meat away first, and then bit into the bone.
2. To bite or chew on something repeatedly in order to grind it down or to remove small pieces from it a bit at a time: The kids gnawed away at the cobs of fresh corn. That dog will gnaw away at that bone until it gets to the marrow inside.
3. To cause someone or something to have or feel persistent discomfort, anxiety, or guilt: Dark thoughts gnawed away at my mind.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.