gnaw on

gnaw on (someone or something)

1. To chew on something, often biting off small pieces. The dog is just gnawing on his new bone, happy as can be. The baby has been completely miserable lately, except for when he's gnawing on a teething ring. I'm terrified to even say this out loud—but do you think rats are the ones that gnawed on our wires?

2. To bother someone or cause them worry or trepidation. His critical comments are really gnawing on me today—I can't stop thinking about them. Even though I do volunteer work now, it still gnaws on 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 on you for the rest of the game.

See also: gnaw, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

gnaw on something

to chew on something. (Usually said of an animal.) The puppy has been gnawing on my slippers! This slipper has been gnawed on!

See also: gnaw, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

gnaw on

v.

1. To bite or chew on something, either without eating it or removing small pieces of it a bit at a time: The dog has been gnawing on that bone for days.

2. To cause someone or something to have or feel persistent discomfort, anxiety, or guilt: Unpleasant dreams gnawed on me all night and I couldn't sleep.

See also: gnaw, on

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.