Schemat użycia:
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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
The dog gnawed on a bone.
A kutya egy csontot rágcsált.
A mouse can gnaw wood.
Az egér meg tudja rágni a fát.
Częsty błąd:
The spelling has a silent “g” (pronounced like “naw”). Often used with on (gnaw on a bone).
Znaczenie
bite and chew repeatedly
Kolokacje
gnaw on a bone
|gnaw on a stick
|gnaw on a toy
|gnaw at the meat
|gnawing animal
|gnawing teeth
Synonimy
chew (More general; gnaw suggests repeated biting, often on something hard.)
|
nibble (Usually smaller, lighter bites than gnaw.)
Antonimy
swallow (Taking food down without chewing repeatedly.)
Tematy
animals
|food
|daily_life
Definicja
To chew something again and again.
To bite and chew something repeatedly, especially to remove small pieces from a hard surface.
Schemat użycia:
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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
Mice gnawed through the box.
Az egerek átrágták a dobozt.
Częsty błąd:
Use through for the result (gnaw through a cable), not *gnaw across.
Znaczenie
damage by chewing a hole
Kolokacje
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
Synonimy
chew through (Close in meaning; gnaw emphasizes repeated biting, often by animals.)
Antonimy
mend (Fixing damage rather than causing it.)
Tematy
animals
|home
|problems
Definicja
To chew something until you make a hole or go through it.
To make a hole in something or cut through it by gnawing.
Schemat użycia:
[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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
Guilt gnawed at him.
A bűntudat mardosta.
Częsty błąd:
Commonly used with at (doubt gnawed at her). Also common as an adjective: gnawing doubt.
Znaczenie
worry someone continuously
Kolokacje
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
Synonimy
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.)
Antonimy
reassure (To remove worry rather than create it.)
|
comfort (To ease distress rather than cause ongoing distress.)
Tematy
emotions
|mind
|relationships
Definicja
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.
Schemat użycia:
[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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
The sea gnawed at the rocks.
A tenger kikezdte a sziklákat.
Częsty błąd:
Often used in figurative writing about money, strength, or resources (costs gnawed at profits).
Znaczenie
wear away gradually
Kolokacje
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
Synonimy
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.)
Antonimy
strengthen (To make something stronger rather than weaken it.)
|
build up (To increase or add rather than reduce.)
Tematy
nature
|business
|change
Definicja
To slowly damage or reduce something over time.
To gradually wear away, weaken, or reduce something over time, as if by biting.