eat away at

A weaker dollar would also make Americans poorer — it would eat away at the value of our paychecks and make borrowing more expensive.

She tells the BBC the unpleasant feeling afterwards can eat away at her for hours.

And, of course, I think it’s wise not to allow fear, anger and resignation to eat away at your soul.

The introduction of new shows in June mirrors the strategy cable once used to eat away at the share of the broadcast networks’ audience.

Let treachery eat away at them from within.