peeled away
Came off gradually
Peeled away describes removing something by pulling it back in layers, like skin from fruit or a label from a jar: She peeled away the old wallpaper.
Figuratively, it means stripping back layers to reveal what's underneath: The investigation peeled away decades of secrecy.
It can also describe departing from a group, breaking off at an angle: One runner peeled away from the pack.
- layer by layerIn successive horizontal sections
- shedCast off naturally
- revealMake something visible
- stripNarrow elongated piece
- sloughBoggy ground or cast-off skin
uncover · detach · veer · diverge · molt · pare · retreat · withdraw · pulled back · chip · flake · separate · split off · broke off · disclose · scrape · expose · dislodge