eat (something) off

eat (something) off

To erode or wear something away. A very corrosive substance must have eaten off this part of the pipe.See also: eat, off

eat something off (of) something

 and eat something offto erode something off a larger part. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The acidic rain ate the finish off the steeple. The acid ate off the finish.See also: eat, off