用法パターン:
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.
学習者向け例文
The dog gnawed on a bone.
A kutya egy csontot rágcsált.
A mouse can gnaw wood.
Az egér meg tudja rágni a fát.
よくある間違い:
The spelling has a silent “g” (pronounced like “naw”). Often used with on (gnaw on a bone).
意味
bite and chew repeatedly
コロケーション
gnaw on a bone
|gnaw on a stick
|gnaw on a toy
|gnaw at the meat
|gnawing animal
|gnawing teeth
類義語
chew (More general; gnaw suggests repeated biting, often on something hard.)
|
nibble (Usually smaller, lighter bites than gnaw.)
対義語
swallow (Taking food down without chewing repeatedly.)
テーマ
animals
|food
|daily_life
定義
To chew something again and again.
To bite and chew something repeatedly, especially to remove small pieces from a hard surface.
用法パターン:
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.
学習者向け例文
Mice gnawed through the box.
Az egerek átrágták a dobozt.
よくある間違い:
Use through for the result (gnaw through a cable), not *gnaw across.
意味
damage by chewing a hole
コロケーション
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
類義語
chew through (Close in meaning; gnaw emphasizes repeated biting, often by animals.)
対義語
mend (Fixing damage rather than causing it.)
テーマ
animals
|home
|problems
定義
To chew something until you make a hole or go through it.
To make a hole in something or cut through it by gnawing.
用法パターン:
[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.
学習者向け例文
Guilt gnawed at him.
A bűntudat mardosta.
よくある間違い:
Commonly used with at (doubt gnawed at her). Also common as an adjective: gnawing doubt.
意味
worry someone continuously
コロケーション
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
類義語
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.)
対義語
reassure (To remove worry rather than create it.)
|
comfort (To ease distress rather than cause ongoing distress.)
テーマ
emotions
|mind
|relationships
定義
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.
用法パターン:
[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.
学習者向け例文
The sea gnawed at the rocks.
A tenger kikezdte a sziklákat.
よくある間違い:
Often used in figurative writing about money, strength, or resources (costs gnawed at profits).
コロケーション
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
類義語
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.)
対義語
strengthen (To make something stronger rather than weaken it.)
|
build up (To increase or add rather than reduce.)
テーマ
nature
|business
|change
定義
To slowly damage or reduce something over time.
To gradually wear away, weaken, or reduce something over time, as if by biting.