The phrase "strip away" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /strɪp əˈweɪ/. The first syllable, "strip," is pronounced with the sounds /strɪp/, which is a consonant cluster of two consonant sounds - /s/ and /t/ - followed by the vowel sound /ɪ/. The second syllable, "away," is pronounced with the sounds /əˈweɪ/, which consists of the schwa sound /ə/ and the diphthong /weɪ/. This phrase means to remove something layer by layer until it is completely gone.
Strip away is a phrasal verb that means to remove or eliminate something, usually in a gradual or systematic manner. It is used to describe the process of taking away layers, aspects, or elements of something, in order to reveal its core or essence. This can be done either literally or figuratively, depending on the context.
When used in a literal sense, strip away refers to physically removing layers of material, such as clothing, paint, wallpaper, or any other covering that conceals the underlying surface or object. For example, a person may strip away layers of old wallpaper to reveal the original plastered walls beneath.
In a figurative sense, strip away implies the act of getting rid of unnecessary or superficial elements to expose the true nature or essence of something. This can involve removing personal biases, prejudices, emotions, or other distractions that cloud one's judgment or understanding. For instance, a scientist might strip away the subjective elements of a study to focus solely on the objective data.
Overall, strip away emphasizes the process of peeling off or cutting through layers, whether physical or metaphorical, to uncover what lies beneath and gain a clearer insight or understanding.
The term strip away derives from the combination of the verbs strip and away.
The verb strip can be traced back to the late 14th century, borrowing from the Old French verb estriper meaning to strip off. This Old French term ultimately descends from the Latin word strippare, which also means to strip off.
The word away has its origins in the Old English term aweg, which means from this, hence. Over time, it evolved into the Middle English form awaye and eventually became the modern English away.