chip away 復習
テキサス州の最高裁では同性婚の権利について議論がなされています。
Texas court hears case that could dent gay marriage right
The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a Houston case that top Republicans hope will provide an opening to chip away at the landmark 2015 ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide.
A coalition of religious and social conservatives sued America's fourth-largest city in 2013, challenging its decision to offer same-sex spousal benefits to municipal employees. Last year, Texas' elected, all-Republican court refused to hear the matter on appeal, effectively allowing the marriage benefits in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Constitution grants gay couples seeking to marry "equal dignity in the eyes of the law."
But the state Supreme Court reversed itself in January, amid pressure from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as dozens of other conservative elected officials, church leaders and grassroots activists. They filed a parade of briefs saying the case may help Texas limit the scope of the Supreme Court ruling — especially in how it's applied to states.
Texas' highest civil court reconsidering a previous decision is unusual, but not unprecedented. As a result, justices listened to about 50 minutes of arguments. A ruling isn't expected for months.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-court-hears-case-limit-gay-marriage-legalization-45830261
取り上げる表現は"chip away"です。
"chip"には動詞で「欠く、砕く、削る」という意味があります。そこに"away"が付くとどうなるのでしょうか。
『ジーニアス英和辞典』第４版（大修館）で調べてみると、"at"と共起して「少しずつ削り取る、はがれる、（希望・自信などを）だんだん失わせる」とあり、他動詞では「（希望・自尊心などを）徐々に崩す、そぐ」と定義されていました。
LDOCEでは、"to gradually make something less effective or destroy it"と表現されています。
"chip"「欠く」と"away"「去る、離れる」という意味がそれぞれあることから、予測しやすい表現だとおもいます。(Akim)
