strip away

English

Verb

strip away (third-person singular simple present strips away, present participle stripping away, simple past and past participle stripped away)

1. (transitive) To remove, whether bit by bit or suddenly.

   When we stripped away the old wallpaper, we discovered an interesting mural painted on the wall.

   The government has stripped away some of our basic rights by passing a series of controversial laws.

   • 2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards honour the best restoration projects: The Great Western Railway Craft Skills Award: Victoria Arcade”, in RAIL, number 946, page 59:

     This project has stripped away modern PVCu and aluminium shop fronts to reveal original or 1930s Art Deco work, with judicious repairs and replacements as necessary, plus stonework repairs and the restoration of traditional London Transport signage.

2. (transitive, figurative) To discard or disregard; to ignore (a factor that obscures the reality).

   If you strip away the hype, you find that he is just an ordinary person trying to make a living, like everyone else.