flake off
Come away piecemeal
To flake off is to separate from a surface in thin, flat pieces.
Paint flakes off old buildings; rust flakes off neglected metal; skin flakes off after a sunburn.
The phrase describes gradual deterioration or natural shedding: The gilt was flaking off the antique frame.
Informally, to flake off can mean to leave or dismiss someone: Why don't you just flake off?
Remove outer skin layers
- chippingBreaking into fragments
- scalingClimbing or resizing
- sheddingLosing outer covering
- spallingSurface material fragmenting off
sloughing · peel · cracking · blistering · scraping · stripping · abrasion · excoriation
Fragment gradually
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
wear away · corrode · disintegrate · breakdown · spall · atrophy · decompose · degrade
To leave behind completely
- bailCourt-set release payment
- ditchShallow excavated channel
- abandonLeave behind permanently
- neglectFailure to provide care
let down · disappoint · stand up · back out · drop out · walk away · cop out · no-show
Not consistently trustworthy
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
erratic · uncommitted · wishy-washy · spacey · scattered · forgetful · distracted · careless
exfoliate
Remove outer skin layers
spalling · sloughing · peel · cracking · blistering · scraping · stripping · abrasion · excoriation · erosion
crumble
Fragment gradually
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
erode · wear away · corrode · disintegrate · breakdown · spall · atrophy · decompose · degrade · oxidize
desert
To leave behind completely
neglect · let down · disappoint · stand up · back out · drop out · walk away · cop out · no-show · cancel
undependable
Not consistently trustworthy
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
untrustworthy · erratic · uncommitted · wishy-washy · spacey · scattered · forgetful · distracted · careless · negligent