The word 'whittle' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean to cut off small pieces from something with a sharp tool. For example, "He whittled a stick into a small figurine."
I don't think anyone would argue that it's probably better for little Johnny or Jane if their parents would rather whittle wooden figurines with them than pop them in front of Frozen or Angry Birds on the iPad.
It's been so difficult to whittle it down, in fact, that I'd suggest going to the GuardianWitness site for a peep at all the entries.
A brief walk revealed three examples of illegal activity: a man nonchalantly pretending to whittle a twig with a panga, while five planks of newly-hewn timber rested on the tree beside him, a woman grazing 76 animals and an abandoned, newly hewn, log beehive.
The old-fashioned belief still prevails that playing team sports, especially posh ones like rowing, makes for a rounded character.The final key to success is to turn your interviewer into a champion: someone who is willing to go to bat for you when the hiring committee meets to whittle down the list.
Mr Khamenei wields much control over the Guardian Council which must now whittle down the 686 presidential candidates to around a dozen.
If nothing else, these talks might give him cover for another whittle at what is left of old republican absolutes.
If the airlines use this as a moment to whittle away a little more at benefits available through their frequent-flyer programmes, the loss of in-flight peanuts may soon look like, well, peanuts.
To cut costs, companies may hire a firm with smart technology to whittle down the e-material before the lawyers start expensively perusing it.
Mrs Dorries, who calls herself "pro-choice" but has form in campaigns to whittle down abortion rights, argues that such charities cannot give independent advice because their financial interest lies in doing more abortions.
Mr Berlusconi seems likely to win although Mr Prodi's successor as centre-left leader, Walter Veltroni, a popular mayor of Rome, may whittle down his lead.In search of liberalismoNew election rules are needed if stable government is to return.
