eat at



eat (away) at someone

Fig. [for a problem] to trouble someone constantly. The nasty situation at work began to eat away at me. Nagging worries ate at me day and night.
See also: eat

eat (away) at something

Fig. to erode something. The acid ate away at the metal floor. Fingers have a mild acid that eats at the metal of the door handle.
See also: eat

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Aqila-Arabic
Zechariahzek-ə-RIE-ə (English)Biblical, English
&Aelig;Lfwine-Anglo-Saxon
Wiremu-Maori
Zaxaria-Old Church Slavic
Dragana-Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian