chisel
gb/t͡ʃˈɪzəl/ us/t͡ʃˈɪzəl/
B1
English
véső, vés, farag, csiszol, átver, kicsal, lehúz, szélhámos, kidolgoz, élesen kirajzol
NOUN
B1
1
véső
B2
Usage pattern:
a chisel; a [type] chisel
He tapped the chisel with a hammer to remove the old tile.
Kalapáccsal ütögette a vésőt, hogy eltávolítsa a régi csempét.
You’ll need a sharp chisel to cut a clean joint in the wood.
Éles vésőre lesz szükséged, hogy pontos illesztést alakíts ki a fában.
The sculptor picked up a chisel and began working on the marble.
Learner examples
He used a chisel to cut the wood.
Vésővel vágta a fát.
This chisel is very sharp.
Ez a véső nagyon éles.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse chisel (a tool) with scissors (for cutting paper, cloth, etc.).
Meaning
tool for cutting hard material
Collocations
wood chisel
|stone chisel
|cold chisel
|sharp chisel
|blunt chisel
|use a chisel
|tap a chisel
|chisel and hammer
|a set of chisels
|carpenter's chisel
Synonyms
carving tool (General term; a chisel is a specific type of carving tool.)
Themes
tools
|crafts
|diy
Definition
a tool used to cut or shape wood or stone
A metal tool with a sharp flat edge at one end, used for cutting or shaping wood, stone, or metal, usually by pushing it by hand or striking it with a hammer.
VERB
B2
2
vés
B2
Usage pattern:
chisel [something]; chisel [something] into/out of [material]
They chiseled the design into the stone wall.
Belevésték a mintát a kőfalba.
I had to chisel away the hardened plaster before repainting.
Újrafestés előtt le kellett vésnem a megkeményedett vakolatot.
She chiseled the excess wood off the edge to make it fit.
Learner examples
He chiseled a small hole in the rock.
Egy kis lyukat vésett a sziklába.
Common mistake:
Use ‘carve’ for general cutting; ‘chisel’ suggests using the specific tool.
Meaning
cut or carve with a chisel
Collocations
chisel a groove
|chisel a channel
|chisel a joint
|chisel a notch
|chisel details
|chisel stone
|chisel wood
|chisel marble
|chisel a statue
|carefully chisel
Synonyms
carve (Broader; ‘chisel’ emphasizes the tool and chipping action.)
|
chip (Focuses on removing small pieces; may not imply shaping.)
Antonyms
smooth (Opposite action: making a surface even rather than cutting into it.)
Themes
tools
|crafts
|diy
Definition
to shape something using a chisel
To cut, shape, or carve a hard material using a chisel.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
chisel [something] (into/from) [something]
Over years, he chiseled his story into a tight, compelling novel.
Évek alatt feszes, magával ragadó regénnyé csiszolta a történetét.
The artist chiseled the rough block into a recognizable figure.
A művész felismerhető alakot faragott a nyers tömbből.
She chiseled the argument down to its main point.
Learner examples
He chiseled the block into a statue.
A tömbből szobrot faragott.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use ‘chisel’ where ‘polish’ fits better; ‘chisel’ implies removing material.
Meaning
shape by cutting or chipping
Collocations
chisel a figure
|chisel a form
|chisel a face
|chisel something out
|chisel something into shape
|meticulously chisel
|roughly chisel
|chisel away at
|chisel a masterpiece
|chisel details into
Synonyms
sculpt (More general artistic term; ‘chisel’ highlights the cutting/removal method.)
|
hew (Usually rough cutting, especially of wood or stone.)
Antonyms
build (Opposite process: adding material rather than removing it.)
Themes
crafts
|art
|work
Definition
to shape something little by little by cutting pieces away
To form or refine something by repeatedly removing small pieces, especially from a hard surface; often used figuratively.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
chisel [someone] out of [money/something]; chisel [something] from [someone]
He tried to chisel the contractor into doing extra work for free.
Megpróbálta átverni a vállalkozót, és ingyen elvégeztetni vele a pluszmunkát.
Tourists were chiseled out of hundreds of dollars by a fake guide.
Egy hamis idegenvezető több száz dollárt csalt ki a turistáktól.
They accused the company of chiseling customers with hidden fees.
Learner examples
Someone tried to chisel me out of my money.
Valaki megpróbálta kicsalni tőlem a pénzemet.
Common mistake:
This meaning is informal; in formal writing prefer ‘defraud’ or ‘swindle’.
Meaning
cheat someone out of money
Collocations
chisel someone out of money
|chisel a discount
|chisel an advantage
|try to chisel
|chisel your way into
|chisel someone
|chisel money from someone
|chisel a deal
|chisel a refund
|chisel an extra
Synonyms
swindle (More common and neutral than ‘chisel’ for fraud.)
|
scam (Emphasizes a scheme or trick; ‘chisel’ can sound more like petty cheating.)
|
cheat (Broader; not always about money.)
Antonyms
reimburse (Opposite outcome: paying back rather than taking unfairly.)
|
deal fairly (Opposite behavior in a transaction.)
Themes
crime
|money
|business
Definition
to trick someone to get money or something valuable
To cheat or swindle someone, especially to get money or an advantage unfairly.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
5
szélhámos
B2
Usage pattern:
a chisel
Don’t lend him money—he’s a chisel and you’ll never see it again.
Ne adj neki kölcsön pénzt – szélhámos, és soha többé nem látod a pénzed.
They warned us that the neighborhood had a few chisels who target newcomers.
Arra figyelmeztettek minket, hogy a környéken néhány szélhámos az újonnan érkezőket veszi célba.
Common mistake:
More common noun forms are ‘con artist’ or ‘scammer’; this use can sound dated in some regions.
Meaning
person who cheats or swindles
Collocations
petty chisel
|a total chisel
|call someone a chisel
|known chisel
Synonyms
con artist (More common; often implies an elaborate trick.)
|
scammer (Modern and common; often about online or organized scams.)
|
cheat (General term; not always specifically about money.)
Antonyms
honest person (Opposite character trait in dealings with others.)
Themes
people
|crime
|money
Definition
a person who tricks people for money
A person who cheats or swindles others, especially for money; a chiseler.
VERB
B2
6
kidolgoz
B2
Usage pattern:
chisel [something]; chisel [something] into [shape]
He spent months in the gym to chisel his abs.
Hónapokig járt edzőterembe, hogy kidolgozza a hasizmait.
The lighting chiseled the actor’s cheekbones in the close-up.
A megvilágítás élesen kirajzolta a színész arccsontjait a közeli felvételen.
A good diet can help chisel a more defined look.
Learner examples
He wants to chisel his muscles.
Ki szeretné dolgozni az izmait.
Common mistake:
Often used figuratively; avoid using it for soft materials where ‘shape’ is more natural.
Meaning
make features sharply defined
Collocations
chisel abs
|chisel a jawline
|chisel your physique
|chisel your body
|chisel arms
|chisel your shoulders
|workouts to chisel
|chiseled look
|chisel definition
|chisel into shape
Synonyms
sculpt (Very common in fitness/beauty contexts; less tied to cutting tools.)
|
define (Focuses on making muscles more visible rather than creating size.)
|
tone (Fitness term emphasizing firmness rather than sharp definition.)
Antonyms
soften (Opposite effect: making lines or definition less sharp.)
Themes
appearance
|health_fitness
|media
Definition
to make something look strong and clearly shaped
To make something, especially someone’s body or facial features, look sharply defined as if carved.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chisel
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈɪzəl/
US/t͡ʃˈɪzəl/
Syllables & stress
chisel (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (chisel)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: chisel
- Plural: chisels
Verb
- Base: chisel
- 3rd Person Singular: chisels
- Present Participle: chiseling, chiselling
- Past: chiseled, chiselled
Word family
Forms
Advanced or less common
chiseler
noun
Expressions
chisel [someone] out of [money/something]
1/t͡ʃˈɪzəl sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈaʊt əv mˈoʊnisəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
cheat someone to get something
to trick someone and take their money
Examples
- The scammer chiseled her out of her savings.
- They claimed the salesman chiseled them out of an extra fee.
- He was arrested for chiseling elderly people out of thousands of dollars.
chisel away (at)
1/t͡ʃˈɪzəl əwˈeɪ ˈæt/
phrasal verb
work steadily in small steps
to keep working at something little by little
Examples
- She’s been chiseling away at her thesis for months.
- We spent the afternoon chiseling away at the ice on the steps.
- Little by little, he chiseled away at his debt.
Learner examples
- I am chiseling away at my homework.
chisel down
1/t͡ʃˈɪzəl dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
reduce an amount gradually
to make something smaller or cheaper little by little
Examples
- We managed to chisel the price down by ten percent.
- The editor chiseled the article down to 800 words.
- Over time, they chiseled down the backlog by tackling a few tasks each day.
Learner examples
- We chiseled the cost down.
chisel in
1/t͡ʃˈɪzəl ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
carve words into hard surface
to write on stone or metal by carving it
Examples
- They chiseled in the dates along the bottom of the monument.
- His name was chiseled in beside the others.
- The mason chiseled the message in carefully, letter by letter.
chisel off
1/t͡ʃˈɪzəl ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
remove by cutting or chipping
to remove something by cutting it away
Examples
- We had to chisel off the old adhesive before installing the new flooring.
- He carefully chiseled the paint off the hinges.
- The restorer chiseled off the damaged layer without harming the stone underneath.
Learner examples
- He chiseled off the old glue.
chisel out
1/t͡ʃˈɪzəl ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
carve by cutting pieces away
to make something by carving it from stone or wood
Examples
- The workers chiseled out a channel for the wiring.
- She chiseled out a small figure from a piece of soapstone.
- He chiseled out a place for himself in the industry.
Learner examples
- They chiseled out a hole in the wall.