Vzorec užití:
gnaw (on) [something]
The puppy sat quietly and gnawed on its bone.
A kiskutya csendben ült, és a csontját rágcsálta.
Beavers gnaw trees to get wood for their dams.
A hódok fákat rágnak, hogy fát szerezzenek a gátjaikhoz.
He gnawed at the tough crust until it finally broke.
Učební příklady
The dog gnawed on a bone.
A kutya egy csontot rágcsált.
A mouse can gnaw wood.
Az egér meg tudja rágni a fát.
Častá chyba:
The spelling has a silent “g” (pronounced like “naw”). Often used with on (gnaw on a bone).
Význam
bite and chew repeatedly
Kolokace
gnaw on a bone
|gnaw on a stick
|gnaw on a toy
|gnaw at the meat
|gnawing animal
|gnawing teeth
Synonyma
chew (More general; gnaw suggests repeated biting, often on something hard.)
|
nibble (Usually smaller, lighter bites than gnaw.)
Antonyma
swallow (Taking food down without chewing repeatedly.)
Témata
animals
|food
|daily_life
Definice
To chew something again and again.
To bite and chew something repeatedly, especially to remove small pieces from a hard surface.
Vzorec užití:
gnaw through [something] / gnaw a hole in [something]
Rats had gnawed through the plastic pipe.
A patkányok átrágták a műanyag csövet.
Something had gnawed a hole in the flour bag.
Valami kirágott egy lyukat a liszteszacskón.
The rabbit gnawed the door frame when it was bored.
Učební příklady
Mice gnawed through the box.
Az egerek átrágták a dobozt.
Častá chyba:
Use through for the result (gnaw through a cable), not *gnaw across.
Význam
damage by chewing a hole
Kolokace
gnaw through a wire
|gnaw through a rope
|gnaw through the fence
|gnaw a hole in a bag
|gnaw holes in wood
|rats gnawed through
|mice gnawed the box
Synonyma
chew through (Close in meaning; gnaw emphasizes repeated biting, often by animals.)
Antonyma
mend (Fixing damage rather than causing it.)
Témata
animals
|home
|problems
Definice
To chew something until you make a hole or go through it.
To make a hole in something or cut through it by gnawing.
Vzorec užití:
[something] gnaws at [someone]
Doubt gnawed at her all week.
Egész héten mardosta a kétely.
The lie began to gnaw at his conscience.
A hazugság elkezdte mardosni a lelkiismeretét.
A small fear gnawed in the back of his mind.
Učební příklady
Guilt gnawed at him.
A bűntudat mardosta.
Častá chyba:
Commonly used with at (doubt gnawed at her). Also common as an adjective: gnawing doubt.
Význam
worry someone continuously
Kolokace
gnawing doubt
|gnawing guilt
|gnawing fear
|gnaw at your conscience
|gnaw at you
|questions gnawed at him
|a suspicion gnawed at her
|hunger gnawed at them
Synonyma
nag (Often used for an irritating thought or worry that keeps returning.)
|
torment (Stronger; suggests more intense suffering.)
|
prey on (Similar metaphor; often used for fears or worries.)
Antonyma
reassure (To remove worry rather than create it.)
|
comfort (To ease distress rather than cause ongoing distress.)
Témata
emotions
|mind
|relationships
Definice
If something gnaws at you, you keep thinking about it and it makes you feel bad.
To trouble someone continuously, so that the feeling or thought does not go away.
Vzorec užití:
[something] gnaws at [something] / gnaw away at [something]
Over decades, the ocean gnawed at the base of the cliff.
Évtizedek alatt az óceán kikezdte a sziklafal alját.
Rising costs gnawed away at the company’s profits.
Az emelkedő költségek kikezdték a cég nyereségét.
Stress can gnaw away at your health if it never stops.
Učební příklady
The sea gnawed at the rocks.
A tenger kikezdte a sziklákat.
Častá chyba:
Often used in figurative writing about money, strength, or resources (costs gnawed at profits).
Význam
wear away gradually
Kolokace
the sea gnawed at the cliffs
|time gnaws at
|inflation gnawed at savings
|costs gnawed at profits
|corrosion gnawed at the metal
|gnaw away at the foundation
|gnaw away at support
Synonyma
erode (More formal; often used for land, trust, or power.)
|
wear away (Very close; less vivid than gnaw.)
|
eat away at (Common metaphor for gradual reduction or damage.)
Antonyma
strengthen (To make something stronger rather than weaken it.)
|
build up (To increase or add rather than reduce.)
Témata
nature
|business
|change
Definice
To slowly damage or reduce something over time.
To gradually wear away, weaken, or reduce something over time, as if by biting.