chip 動詞 【OE.cippian (陶器などが欠ける) → 】

...を欠く
  Never use this kitchen knife to cut through frozen food. It is likely to chip the blade. この包丁で 冷凍食品を切らないでね。刃が欠けちゃうと思うから。
  The frame seemed to be as old as the painting in it and was chipped a little on a corner. 額縁も中の絵と同じくらい古い ものらしく、角が少し欠けていた

欠ける
  Ceramic plates chip easily, especially around the edges. 陶磁器の皿は欠けやすく、特に縁のあたりが欠けやすい。

chip away at A  A を少しずつ減らす
  Every company should add more jobs to chip away at unemployment. 失業者数を減らすためにどの会社ももっと 仕事を増やさなければならない。