verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
away
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The village was, as she had thought, a dump, where time was whittled away in some vintage manner.
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They are behind federal agencies in other parts of the country and overseas in whittling away at piles of backlogged work.
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While waiting he brought out a penknife and began whittling away a table-top.
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One Sunday he was whittling away when he was reminded by a page that it was the Sabbath.
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Visitors can even whittle away time at the airport's 143 shops and 23 eateries while awaiting flights.
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And scurvy all the while whittled away at the crew, killing six to ten men every day.
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Ever since Donald had taken over the management of the company, Robert's role had been gradually whittled away .
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Under government ownership, the grazing land was gradually whittled away by privately owned farms.
down
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The planned 75 % reduction in the permitted catch of hake was whittled down to 41 %.
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This was whittled down to three for this event, including me.
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This is good because it allows you to whittle down those superior numbers.
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This war is a bid by the Tigrayan nationalists to whittle down their northern neighbour.
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That figure was whittled down , but was still much higher than the Government was prepared to bankroll.
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You can rely on these keen-eyed bowmen to whittle down the enemy's numbers as they advance.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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He took out his penknife and began whittling a piece of wood.
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The list of candidates has been whittled down from 61 to 12.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Many of the recent suggestions for change have sought to whittle down that authority.
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Red and Roy whittle the lead back down to nine.
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That whittled the field down from the white pages of the Paris phone book.
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The village was, as she had thought, a dump, where time was whittled away in some vintage manner.
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This is good because it allows you to whittle down those superior numbers.
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Visitors can even whittle away time at the airport's 143 shops and 23 eateries while awaiting flights.