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Wear away vs Wear off

wear away

1. be reduced through constant pressure, friction, etc.:

  • With the passing of the years, the finer detail of the carvings has almost worn away.

2. (of a person) become progressively weaker:

  • After the operation, she just seemed to wear away until she died.

3. (of time) pass slowly:

  • As the afternoon wore away, I found it more and more difficult to stay awake.

wear off

1. = wear away 1:

  • Don’t polish those badges: the gilt will wear off in time if you do.

2. (of a feeling or effect) disappear gradually; no longer affect one:

  • The drink inside them had worn off, leaving only a sour feeling in the stomach.