SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

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

: past tense of see

: 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

: to cut with a saw
: to produce or form by cutting with a saw
: to slash as though with a saw

: maxim, proverb

See the full definition of saw

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