Grammar fix
wear someone down
gradually exhaust
To make someone emotionally weaker or less able to cope through ongoing stress or difficulty.
phrasal verb
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Working night shifts for months really wore him down.
When my grandma was ill, I was going to the hospital every evening after work, and after a couple of months it really wore me down.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: All the arguments at home are wearing me off.
Say: All the arguments at home are wearing me down.
'Wear off' is for an effect fading (the painkillers wore off). Use 'wear someone down' for something that slowly weakens a person.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Slowly upset someone over time
How strongBotheringDeeply troubling
get toComments or problems begin to upset someone.
wear someone downYou're here · Repeated stress gradually weakens someone's emotional resilience.
eat away at someoneWorry, guilt, or doubt persistently troubles someone deeply.