VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

chipping off

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌtʃɪpɪŋ ˈɒf/
US/ˌtʃɪpɪŋ ˈɔːf/

Meanings

  1. phrasephrasal verb

    breaking away from a surface in small, thin pieces

    Grammar: Intransitive use: the subject is the material that comes off, often with 'from': 'The varnish is chipping off the table.'

    Patterns

    • something is chipping off
    • chipping off something
    • chipping off from something

    Look at the old bench — the paint is chipping off in long strips.

    The enamel on the mug is chipping off, so I should replace it.

    Bits of plaster keep chipping off the wall near the window.

  2. phrasephrasal verb

    removing small pieces from something by hitting or scraping it

    Grammar: Transitive use: you chip something off a surface, often with 'off' or 'from': 'He chipped the ice off the windshield.'

    Patterns

    • chipping something off something
    • chipping something off
    • chipping off something from something

    She was chipping off the dried mud from her boots before going inside.

    The workers are chipping off the old tiles with a hammer and chisel.

    He spent the morning chipping off the rust from the gate.

Common combinations

paint chipping off
The paint is chipping off the doorframe.
chipping off the wall
The plaster is chipping off the wall in the hallway.
chipping off a piece
He was chipping off a piece of chocolate for himself.
chipping off the rust
They are chipping off the rust before painting.

Synonyms and how they differ

peeling off
Used for thin layers like paint or skin that come away; 'chipping off' suggests harder, broken pieces.
flaking off
Similar, but 'flaking' often describes thin, flat scales, while 'chipping' suggests small, irregular bits.

Opposites

sticking onadhering

Word family

chip verb
To break a small piece off something.
chip noun
A small piece broken off, or a mark left by breaking.
chipped adjective
Having a small piece broken off, as in 'a chipped cup'.

Commonly confused: chipping off or chipping in?

chipping off vs chipping in

Means contributing money or helping; 'chipping off' is about breaking pieces away.

Practice

The old paint on the windowsill is ___ in little flakes.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “chipping off”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words