whittle
UK ['wɪt.l] US ['wɪtˌ-] verb transitive
■to make something from a piece of wood by cutting off small thin pieces （用木头）削制，削成•An old sailor sat on the dockside, whittling a toy boat.一名老水手坐在码头边，用木头削制一只玩具船。
UK ['wɪt.l] US ['wɪtˌ-] verb transitive
Phrasal Verbs whittle away at sth
■to gradually reduce the size or importance of something 削减；削弱•A series of new laws has gradually whittled away at the powers of the trade unions in this country.一系列新的法律已经逐渐削弱了工会在这个国家中的权力。
UK ['wɪt.l] US ['wɪtˌ-] verb transitive
Phrasal Verbs [M] whittle sth down
■to gradually reduce the size of something or the number of people in a group 使缩小；使（人数）减少•We had eighty applicants for the job, but we've whittled them down to six.这个职位我们有80位申请者，我们已经将其筛减到了六位。 |