eat away at

grignoter, épuiser

Réduire peu à peu l’argent, le temps, les forces ou d’autres ressources limitées.

En anglais simple : To gradually reduce money, time, strength, or another limited supply.

• These costs eat away at our profits.
• Years of poor sales ate away at the company’s reserves.
• Constant delays are eating away at the time we have left.

Comment l'utiliser : eat away at something (High fees eat away at our savings.)

Synonymes : reduce, deplete, drain, erode

Expressions courantes : eat away at savings, eat away at profits

ronger, tourmenter

Continuer à causer de l’inquiétude, de la culpabilité ou du chagrin à quelqu’un.

En anglais simple : To keep making someone feel worried, guilty, or upset over time.

• The guilt eats away at me.
• Doubts ate away at her throughout the journey.
• Has that mistake been eating away at you?

Comment l'utiliser : eat away at someone (The secret ate away at him for years.)

Synonymes : trouble, torment, gnaw at

Expressions courantes : eat away at someone, eat away at me

éroder, ronger

Abîmer ou enlever progressivement des parties de quelque chose sous l’action de l’eau, de produits chimiques ou d’agents similaires.

En anglais simple : To slowly damage or remove parts of something through water, chemicals, or similar forces.

• Rust eats away at metal.
• The river ate away at the bank after heavy rain.
• Acid has eaten away at the stone surface.

Comment l'utiliser : eat away at something (The waves eat away at the cliffs.)

Synonymes : erode, wear away, corrode

Expressions courantes : eat away at metal, eat away at rock