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