wear off

[for the effects of something] to become less; to stop gradually. The effects of the painkiller wore off and my tooth began to hurt. I was annoyed at first, but my anger wore off.

See also: off, wear

wear something off (of) something

and wear something off

to grind or rub something off something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The grinding of the bottom of the boat on the sandbanks wore the barnacles off the hull. The sand wore off the barnacles.

See also: off, wear

wear off

Diminish gradually, lose effectiveness, as in We'll wait till the drug wears off. [Late 1600s]

See also: off, wear

wear off

1. To diminish gradually in effect until gone: The drug wore off after eight hours.

2. To be gradually removed by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure: So many people touched the picture that its luster finally wore off.

3. To gradually remove something by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure: The inclement weather wore off the awning on my porch. The snow wore the shine off my car.

See also: off, wear

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Mared	-	Welsh
Bullock	['bulək]
MihÁLy	MEE-hie	Hungarian
Gunn	-	Norwegian
Kaley	['keili]
Nona (1)	-	Roman Mythology