grind away
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus.
Related to grind away: grind down
grind away
1. To remove by grinding or pulverizing. You need to grind away these imperfections.
2. To frequently nag or disparage someone. Will you quit grinding away? I'm doing the best I can!
3. To work hard on something; to dedicate oneself to some effort or task. I've been grinding away all morning, but I still can't figure out where that discrepancy came from.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
grind something away
to remove something by grinding. Grind the bumps away and make the wall smooth. Please grind away the bumps.
grind away (at something)
to crush something into particles continually. The machine ground away at the rocks, making tons of gravel. It ground away, making a terrible noise in the process.
grind away
(at someone) Fig. to needle, criticize, and nag someone continually. Why are you always grinding away at me? Leave me alone. Stop grinding away!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
grind away
v.
1. To remove something by grinding: You need to grind the spurs away with a file. The optician ground away the glass from the lens.
2. To devote oneself to study or work: She ground away at the problem. We told him to get some sleep before the exam, but he kept grinding away.
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.