pick away at
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “pick away at” mean?
To continually or inexorably harm someone; to continue to do harm; to needle over time; to weaken someone over time.
Is “pick away at” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.