Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

saw at

phrasal verb

Definition of saw at

: to try to cut (something) by moving a saw, knife, etc., backwards and forwards
  • She was sawing (away) at the turkey with a dull knife.
—sometimes used figuratively
  • The violinist sawed (away) at the strings.

Word by Word Definitions

saw play

  1. : past tense of see

  1. : a hand or power tool or a machine used to cut hard material (such as wood, metal, or bone) and equipped usually with a toothed blade or disk

  1. : to cut with a saw

  2. : to produce or form by cutting with a saw

  3. : to slash as though with a saw

  1. : maxim, proverb

See the full definition of saw

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up saw at? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games