chip away

slowly weaken an argument, belief, or position by repeated small efforts

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What does "chip away at sth" mean?

To chip away at something abstract means to weaken or undermine it gradually through repeated, persistent effort. No single action destroys the target — instead, the cumulative effect of many small challenges eventually erodes its strength or credibility. The image comes from physically striking stone repeatedly: each blow removes only a small piece, but sustained effort eventually transforms the whole. This phrase is most at home in academic writing, serious journalism, and political commentary, where critics, researchers, or rival theories are described as steadily dismantling an established argument, ideology, or authority. In everyday conversation, speakers tend to reach for simpler alternatives such as 'slowly undermine' or 'gradually weaken'.

Examples

How to use it

subject + chip away at + abstract object

The most common pattern: an agent (researchers, critics, evidence) persistently undermines an abstract target such as a belief, position, or authority.

Years of contradictory evidence have chipped away at the theory's credibility.

chip away at + abstract object (present continuous for ongoing process)

The present continuous emphasises that the undermining is actively in progress and not yet complete.

Investigative journalists are chipping away at the official account of what happened.

chip away at + abstract object (present perfect for cumulative result)

The present perfect is especially natural because it conveys the accumulated impact of repeated effort up to the present moment.

Decades of dissenting scholarship have chipped away at what was once considered settled doctrine.

chip away (intransitive short form)

When the target has already been named in context, the preposition 'at' and its object can be dropped, producing a natural short form that still conveys persistent, gradual effort.

The opposition has been chipping away for months, and the minister's authority is visibly weakening.

chip away at + it / them (pronoun as object)

Pronouns are grammatically acceptable when the referent is already clear, though writers often prefer to name the target explicitly for precision.

The central assumption was well-entrenched, but the team's research slowly chipped away at it.

Common Collocations

chip away at confidencechip away at credibilitychip away at authoritychip away at established beliefschip away at a paradigmchip away at resistance

Common Mistakes

Confusing with 'eat away at'

'Eat away at' typically describes emotional or corrosive damage — guilt, grief, or physical decay — while 'chip away at' targets the validity, strength, or authority of ideas, arguments, and institutions. Mixing them up produces a subtle but noticeable mismatch in meaning.

✗ The guilt was chipping away at his sense of self.
✓ The guilt was eating away at his sense of self.
Using the physical sense when the abstract sense is intended

The same form 'chip away at' also describes physically removing material from a surface. When discussing arguments, beliefs, or authority, make sure your object is abstract — using a concrete material object will shift the meaning to the literal, physical sense.

✗ The researchers chipped away at the rock to undermine the theory.
✓ The researchers' findings chipped away at the prevailing theory.
Attempting to use the passive

Because the object of this phrasal verb follows the preposition 'at', it cannot become the subject of a passive sentence. If you want to shift focus to the target, reword the sentence with an active construction or a different verb.

✗ The government's credibility was chipped away at by the scandal.
✓ The scandal chipped away at the government's credibility.

Usage

This phrasal verb is formal and most common in academic writing, journalism, and intellectual discussion. In everyday speech, native speakers are more likely to say 'slowly undermine' or 'gradually weaken' instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'chip away at' always refer to abstract things like arguments and beliefs?

In this sense, yes — the object is typically something abstract such as a belief, argument, authority, or consensus. The same phrase has a separate literal meaning describing the physical act of removing material from a surface bit by bit, such as chipping away at a block of ice. Context usually makes the intended sense clear.

Is it natural to say 'will chip away at' when talking about the future?

It sounds slightly awkward in formal writing. If you need to refer to a future gradual undermining, it is generally more natural to use 'will gradually undermine' or 'will slowly erode'. In informal speech the future form is less jarring, but the phrasal verb is already quite formal, so pairing it with a more precise construction is usually the better choice.

What kinds of subjects typically go with 'chip away at' in this sense?

Common subjects include agents of persistent intellectual pressure: researchers, critics, journalists, rival theories, or bodies of evidence. More abstract subjects such as 'time', 'doubt', or 'successive failures' also work well. The key idea is that something applies sustained, repeated effort or pressure against an established target.

Is 'chip away at' only used in written English?

It is most characteristic of formal written contexts — academic papers, serious journalism, and political commentary. It does appear in formal spoken settings such as lectures and debates, but it is rarely heard in casual conversation. If you are speaking informally, 'slowly undermine' or 'gradually weaken' will sound more natural.

Can I use 'have been chipping away at' or is the present perfect simple better?

The present perfect simple ('have chipped away at') is the more common choice and is usually sufficient to convey the cumulative effect of sustained effort. The present perfect continuous is not wrong, but it is uncommon in practice and can sound slightly redundant given that the phrasal verb already implies an ongoing process.

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