Expression: Eat away on

[_Philippe]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #462 "English Slang Idioms (204)", question 8

"I didn't think that I would be bothered by your brother's rude comments but I am. His comments have been ......... away on me ever since we saw him last. I am going to have to say something to him," Luke said to Rachel.

(a) washing
(b) beating
(c) scrubbing
(d) eating

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #462 "English Slang Idioms (204)", answer 8

"I didn't think that I would be bothered by your brother's rude comments but I am. His comments have been eating away on me ever since we saw him last. I am going to have to say something to him," Luke said to Rachel.

Correct answer: (d) eating

Your answer was: incorrect
"I didn't think that I would be bothered by your brother's rude comments but I am. His comments have been scrubbing away on me ever since we saw him last. I am going to have to say something to him," Luke said to Rachel.
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Hello,
I can't find anywhere eat away on.
The dictionaries where I looked up only know eat away at.
BYU/BNC http://corpus.byu.edu/bnc/ doesn't list eat away on either.
Is it a rare construction ?

[Mister Micawber]

Not rare. 'Eat away at/on' are synonymous.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Puppet]

'what's eating you?' I hear it from american movies. It's popular, though.

Like What's bothering you?