Eventually, the group as whittled down to just 22 finalists. They were whittled down to thirty, some reluctantly. Over one weekend the forty were whittled down to twenty. Over 20 episodes, candidates were whittled down by a panel of five judges. From twenty six written songs, the selection was whittled down to eight. These remaining communities were later whittled away at in other events. The original group of nine was whittled to three. However, by 2012, Labor had gradually whittled away a large Coalition advantage in opinion polling. Currently, the Diaspora has been whittled down to half its former size. Eventually, the patrol is whittled down to just Tibbs and two others. Eventually, the campus was whittled down to about 640 acres. The 40 demands were whittled down to 24 in subsequent political negotiations. Soon, it will be whittled away by the loggers. Maranzano also whittled down the rival families' rackets in favor of his own. Meanwhile, Guns N' Roses' classic-lineup was whittled away throughout the decade.