anfressen
to eat away at
To damage or partially consume something by repeatedly eating or gnawing at it.
EXAMPLE
Die Motten haben den Wollpullover angefressen.
The moths have eaten away at the wool sweater.
anfressen
to eat away at
anfressen – fraß an – hat angefressen
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Meanings
sich etwas anfressen
to put on weight
To gain fat or weight through excessive eating.
EXAMPLE
Über die Feiertage hat er sich einige Kilo angefressen.
He put on several kilos over the holidays.
etwas frisst jemanden an
to eat away at someone
For something to trouble or torment someone inwardly and stay on their mind.
EXAMPLE
Der Streit mit seiner Schwester frisst ihn noch immer an.
The argument with his sister is still eating away at him.
anfressen
to eat away at
To gradually corrode or damage something, especially through rust or acid.
EXAMPLE
Der Rost hat das alte Eisengeländer angefressen.
The rust has eaten away at the old iron railing.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry anfressen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | fresse an |
|---|---|
| du | frisst an |
| er/sie/es | frisst an |
| wir | fressen an |
| ihr | fresst an |
| sie | fressen an |
Simple past
| ich | fraß an |
|---|---|
| du | fraßest an fraßt an |
| er/sie/es | fraß an |
| wir | fraßen an |
| ihr | fraßt an |
| sie | fraßen an |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe angefressen |
|---|---|
| du | hast angefressen |
| er/sie/es | hat angefressen |
| wir | haben angefressen |
| ihr | habt angefressen |
| sie | haben angefressen |
Commands
| du | friss an! |
|---|---|
| ihr | fresst an! |
| Sie | fressen Sie an! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte angefressen |
|---|---|
| du | hattest angefressen |
| er/sie/es | hatte angefressen |
| wir | hatten angefressen |
| ihr | hattet angefressen |
| sie | hatten angefressen |
Future
| ich | werde anfressen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst anfressen |
| er/sie/es | wird anfressen |
| wir | werden anfressen |
| ihr | werdet anfressen |
| sie | werden anfressen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | fresse an |
|---|---|
| du | fressest an |
| er/sie/es | fresse an |
| wir | fressen an |
| ihr | fresset an |
| sie | fressen an |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | fräße an |
|---|---|
| du | fräßest an |
| er/sie/es | fräße an |
| wir | fräßen an |
| ihr | fräßet an |
| sie | fräßen an |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | anfressen |
|---|---|
| with zu | anzufressen |
| present participle | anfressend |
| past participle | angefressen |
Usage tips
Separable verb
„Anfressen“ (to eat away at) is a separable verb. In a main clause, „an“ (the separable prefix) comes at the end of the sentence; in a subordinate clause, the verb remains together; and in the infinitive with „zu“ (to), „zu“ comes between the prefix and the verb.
EXAMPLE
Die Mäuse fraßen den Karton an.
The mice ate away at the cardboard box.
Sie bemerkte, dass die Mäuse den Karton anfraßen.
She noticed that the mice had eaten away at the cardboard box.
Die Raupen haben begonnen, die jungen Blätter anzufressen.
The caterpillars have begun to eat away at the young leaves.
Typical objects
In this meaning, „anfressen“ (to eat away at) is often used with materials or parts of plants that are only partially damaged. Typical objects include clothing, wood, leaves, and vegetables.
EXAMPLE
Die Kaninchen haben mehrere Salatköpfe angefressen.
The rabbits have eaten away at several heads of lettuce.
Reflexive construction
For this meaning, use „sich etwas anfressen“ (to put on a certain amount of weight by overeating): the person is in the dative and the weight gained is in the accusative. Common complements are „ein paar Kilo“ (a few kilos), „einige Pfunde“ (several pounds), or „Bauch“ (a belly).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Winter hat sie sich ein paar Kilo angefressen.
After the long winter, she put on a few kilos.
Fixed construction
In this figurative expression, the troubling problem or feeling is the subject, and the affected person is in the accusative. „Innerlich“ (inwardly) often intensifies the idea of an ongoing emotional burden.
EXAMPLE
Die ungeklärte Schuldfrage frisst ihn innerlich an.
The unresolved question of guilt is eating away at him inside.
In real life
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