1
whittle something down (to something)
whittle down 表示逐步减少或缩小范围，常与 to 连用，强调最终结果。
The committee whittled the list down to five candidates.
委员会把名单缩减到只剩下五名候选人。
削；削木头
whittled — past of whittle
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
削；削木头
to cut or shape wood by cutting small pieces off it
The committee whittled the list down to five candidates.
委员会把名单缩减到只剩下五名候选人。
用刀削木头或将其削成形状。
To cut or shape wood with a knife.
减少或逐渐消除某物(如债务)。
To reduce or gradually eliminate something (such as a debt).
削小块或刮削
cut small bits or pare shavings from
使渴望或兴奋；用酒使兴奋；使醉。
To make eager or excited; to excite with liquor; to inebriate.
whittle
Base
原形
whittles
3rd person
第三人称单数
whittling
-ing
现在分词
whittled
Past
过去式
whittled
Past participle
过去分词
He whittles small toys from wood.
他用木头削小玩具。
We whittled the branch into a sharp point.
我们把树枝削尖了。
She is whittling a stick by the fire.
她正在火边削一根棍子。
whittle 作动词时表示“削（木头）”；与 down 或 away 连用时常表示“逐步削减、削弱”。
The endless delays have whittled my patience down to almost nothing.
没完没了的延误把我的耐心消磨得几乎一丝不剩。
AI contextual example
The long climb whittled away our energy.
漫长的攀登逐渐消耗了我们的体力。
AI contextual example
Let's whittle the shopping list down to the essentials.
我们把购物清单精简到只留必需品吧。
AI contextual example
whittle a piece of wood
削一块木头。
WordNet
whittle down 表示逐步减少或缩小范围，常与 to 连用，强调最终结果。
The committee whittled the list down to five candidates.
委员会把名单缩减到只剩下五名候选人。
whittle away at 强调一点一点地削弱或消耗，宾语多为抽象事物，如信心、耐心、储蓄。
Constant noise whittles away at your ability to concentrate.
持续的噪音会不断削弱你集中注意力的能力。
作“削木头”讲时，whittle 后接成品；若需说明材料，用 out of 引出。
He whittled a toy boat out of a piece of cedar.
他用一块雪松木削了一只玩具小船。
Not this
He whittled an apple before eating it.
Use this
He peeled an apple before eating it.
汉语的“削”既可以表示“削果皮”，也可以表示“削木头”；英语中 whittle 专指用刀削木头来整形，削水果应用 peel。
Not this
She whittled a statue from a block of marble.
Use this
She carved a statue from a block of marble.
whittle 的雕刻对象通常是木头；用大理石、石头等硬质材料雕刻时，动词应用 carve。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
逐渐削减；不断削弱
The pressure of work whittled away his enthusiasm.
工作的压力逐渐消磨了他的热情。
逐步减少；压缩
We need to whittle down the list of candidates.
我们需要逐步减少候选人名单。
削一根木棍
He sat on the porch whittling a stick.
他坐在门廊上削一根木棍。
削一块木头
She whittled a piece of wood into a small bird.
她把一块木头削成了一只小鸟。
逐渐削减；慢慢消耗
The constant criticism whittled away her confidence.
不断的批评逐渐削弱了她的信心。
逐步减少；缩减
We need to whittle down the list of candidates to three.
我们需要把候选人名单缩减到三人。
一点一点地削弱；不断削减
Inflation is whittling away at our savings.
通货膨胀正在一点点地消耗我们的积蓄。
Use whittled naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
用小刀把木头削成小(little)块，whittle里藏着little，削着削着就变少。
语域：formal 常见场景：新闻报道、政策讨论、商务分析 此处取“逐步削减、削弱”义项。该用法通常见于正式或书面语境，例如新闻报道、政策讨论和商务分析；常见搭配为 whittle down/away，表示逐步、持续地减少。口语中也可说，但多用于抽象事物。
这几个词都与 whittle 的 /ˈwɪtəl/ 韵脚相同，且拼写中都含 "ittle"：little、brittle、skittle。注意 whittle 与 whistle /ˈwɪsəl/ 拼写相近但读音不同（whistle 以 /səl/ 结尾）。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.