gnaw at

IPA/nˈɔː at/
IPA/nˈɔː æt/

gnaw at — 片語動詞

  • gnaw atbase form
  • gnaws at3rd person singular
  • gnawing at-ing form
  • gnawed atpast simple

1. to keep making someone feel worried, guilty, afraid, or uncomfortable because th

1.片語動詞及物C1
釋義

折磨

持續使人擔心或不安

to keep making someone feel worried, guilty, afraid, or uncomfortable because they cannot stop thinking about it

例句

A small doubt gnawed at her during the whole meeting.

整個會議期間，一個小小的疑慮一直折磨著她。

gnawed at her

The unanswered message began to gnaw at him late that night.

那則沒回的訊息在當天深夜開始讓他心神不寧。

gnaw at him

同義詞
  • trouble

    more general; to make someone feel worried or upset

  • weigh on

    to make someone feel worried, guilty, or sad over time

  • prey on

    to trouble someone's mind continuously, often in a stronger or more literary way

反義詞

文法句型

something gnaws at someone

something gnaws at someone's mind

be gnawed at by something

用法筆記

'Gnaw at' suggests a worry or uncomfortable feeling that works slowly and persistently, not a sudden brief fear.

常見錯誤

Use the worry or feeling as the subject: 'The problem gnawed at him', not usually 'He gnawed at the problem' in this figurative sense.

Do not confuse this figurative phrase with the literal verb 'gnaw', which means to bite something repeatedly.