whittle away

1. PHRASAL VERB 逐渐减少;逐渐削弱
   To whittle away something or whittle away at it means to gradually make it smaller, weaker, or less effective.
   1. I believe that the Government's general aim is to whittle away the Welfare State...
      我认为政府总的目的是要削弱福利国家体制。
   2. Their approach is to whittle away at the evidence to show reasonable doubt.
      他们的做法是要削弱证据的说服力以提出合理的质疑。

1. I believe that the Government's general aim is to whittle away the Welfare State
   我认为政府总的目的是要削弱福利国家体制。
2. Their approach is to whittle away at the evidence to show reasonable doubt.
   他们的做法是要削弱证据的说服力以提出合理的质疑。
3. Theirs was one of a growing number of semi-arranged marriages in which technology has played matchmaker, helping whittle away at an ancient tradition, but with a particularly Indian twist.
   如今，印度出现越来越多这样的半包办婚姻，网络技术扮演媒人角色，帮助削弱古老的传统，不过带着浓重的印度特色。
4. Your article is too long, try to whittle it away to half its length.
   你的文章太长了，要设法删减到原有长度的一半。
5. Yet while the episode allowed Mr Medvedev to flex his muscles, it also demonstrated graphically the limits of his powers namely that he is clearly not allowed to fire ministers, only to whittle away at their perks.
   然而，尽管这一回合让梅德韦杰夫展现了自己的权威，但也生动显示出他的实权是有限的，即他显然无权罢免部长级官员，而只能剥夺他们的一部分特权。
6. When most people think of security threats, they think of defending themselves from external attacks. Useful in dealing with units skulking behind walls for protection, or to whittle away besieging troops outside your walls.
   当多数人考虑安全威胁时，他们考虑防御外部攻击。它可以杀伤躲在城墙后防守的敌人，也可以攻击城墙外的攻城部队。
7. The recent election results have whittle away the government's power.
   最近的选举结果削弱了政府的权力。
8. This uses a succession of cues to whittle away the alternatives until only one remains.
   这一方法使用一连串线索来逐渐减少排除选项，直到最后只剩下一个选项。
9. He began to whittle away all powers of the government that he did not control.
   他开始削弱他所未能控制的一切政府权力。
10. Make this plug smaller for me, but don't whittle away too much.
    帮我把这个塞子弄小一点，但木头不要削掉太多。

verb

1. cut away in small pieces

   Synonym:    whittle downwear away