1550s, "to cut thin shavings from (something) with a knife," from Middle English whittel "a knife," especially a large one (c. 1400), variant of thwittle (late 14c.), from Old English þwitan "to cut," from Proto-Germanic *thwit- (cognates: Old Norse þveita "to hew"), from PIE root *twei- "to agitate, shake, toss." Figurative sense is attested from 1746. Related: Whittled; whittling.
双语例句
1. The president has agreed to whittle down his proposal.
总统已经同意减少他的提案。
来自柯林斯例句
2. 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。
来自柯林斯例句
3. 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。
来自柯林斯例句
4. They are trying to whittle down our salaries.
他们正着手削减我们的薪水.
来自辞典例句
5. He began to whittle away all powers of the government that he did not control.
