What Does “Chase sth away” Mean?
“Chase something away” means to force something or someone to leave by making them feel unwelcome or scared.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “chase sth away” is commonly used in English to describe the action of making something or someone go away, often by scaring or pushing them out. The “sth” stands for “something,” which means you can replace it with any noun, like “bird,” “fear,” or “person.” Understanding the chase sth away meaning helps learners communicate situations where they want to describe removing unwanted things or feelings. This phrase is useful in both everyday conversations and writing. It adds clarity and vividness when explaining how you got rid of something you did not want around.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: chase something away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Meaning: To make something or someone leave by forcing or frightening them
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Chase away” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- Chase something away (object between verb and particle)
Example: She chased the dog away. - Chase away something (object after the particle)
Example: She chased away the dog.
Both structures are correct and commonly used.
How to Use “Chase sth away”?
You use “chase sth away” when you want to talk about making someone or something leave a place, especially by scaring or forcing them. It often refers to animals, people, or even feelings like fear or doubt.
For example, you can say “The loud noise chased the birds away” or “He tried to chase away his worries.” It is used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Examples
- The farmer chased the crows away from his field.
- Bright lights can chase away the bats at night.
- She sang loudly to chase away the scary thoughts.
- We used a broom to chase away the stray cats.
- Chase sth away in a sentence: The children chased away the stray dog that was barking loudly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She chased away quickly the birds.
Correct: She chased the birds away quickly. - Incorrect: He chased away the fear him.
Correct: He chased the fear away. - Incorrect: They chased away the noise.
Correct: They chased the noise away. (Both forms are possible, but object placement is important)
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Drive away: Also means to make something leave but often used with vehicles or people.
Example: The police drove away the protesters. - Scare off: Focuses on frightening someone or something to leave.
Example: Loud noise scared off the birds. - Get rid of: More general; means to remove or eliminate something.
Example: I want to get rid of these old clothes.
“Chase away” implies a more active and sometimes physical effort to make something leave, while “drive away” and “scare off” may have different nuances.
Common Collocations
- Chase away animals (birds, dogs, cats, bats)
- Chase away people (strangers, intruders)
- Chase away feelings (fear, doubts, worries)
- Chase away pests (insects, rats)
- Chase away shadows or darkness (figurative use)
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of chase sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
Emma: The birds keep eating my garden fruits. What can I do?
John: Try hanging shiny objects or making loud noises to chase them away.
Emma: Good idea! I’ll try that tomorrow morning.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) She chased away the cat from the kitchen.
- b) She chased the cat away from the kitchen.
- c) She chased away quickly the cat from the kitchen.
- d) Both a and b are correct.
Answer: d) Both a and b are correct.
FAQs
- Q: Is “chase away” separable?
A: Yes, you can put the object between “chase” and “away” or after “away.” - Q: Can “chase away” be used for feelings?
A: Yes, it can describe removing unwanted feelings like fear or doubt. - Q: Is “chase away” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: What is the difference between “chase away” and “drive away”?
A: “Chase away” often implies actively forcing something to leave, while “drive away” can also mean using a vehicle or authority to remove. - Q: Can I use “chase away” with people?
A: Yes, it is common to say “chase away strangers” or “chase away intruders.”
