What Does “Flush sth away” Mean?
“Flush sth away” means to get rid of something by washing it away, often using water or a similar liquid. It can also mean to lose something completely, especially money or opportunities.
Introduction
The phrase “flush sth away” is commonly used in English to describe the action of causing something to disappear, usually by washing it down a drain or toilet. The flush sth away meaning can be both literal and figurative. Literally, it refers to physically disposing of objects by flushing with water. Figuratively, it is used to describe losing something valuable, such as money or chances, as if they have been washed away and cannot be recovered. Understanding how to use “flush sth away” correctly will help you communicate more naturally in everyday conversations, whether you are talking about cleaning or expressing loss.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: flush something away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to wash or cause something to disappear by water; to lose something completely
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Flush sth away” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “flush” and “away,” or after the entire phrase.
- flush something away (correct)
- flush away something (also correct, but less common)
Example patterns:
- flush + object + away
- flush + away + object (less common)
How to Use “Flush sth away”?
You use “flush sth away” when talking about getting rid of something by washing it down with water, especially in toilets or sinks. It can also be used metaphorically to describe losing something valuable or important, like money or chances, as if it disappeared without a trace.
Common contexts include:
- Flushing rubbish or unwanted items down the toilet or drain
- Describing money lost in bad investments
- Talking about wasted opportunities or efforts
Examples
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use “flush sth away in a sentence”:
- Be careful not to flush away important documents by mistake.
- He flushed away all his savings on gambling.
- The plumber warned us not to flush away any plastic items down the toilet.
- She felt like she had flushed away years of hard work when the project failed.
- Don’t flush away your chance to improve your skills.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “flush sth away” with similar phrases or use it incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I flushed away my phone in the toilet. (Correct: I accidentally flushed my phone away in the toilet.)
- Incorrect: He flushed away with the money. (Correct: He flushed away all the money.)
- Incorrect: Flush away the trash. (Better: Flush the trash away.)
Remember to use the object correctly and avoid adding unnecessary words.
Differences / Synonyms
There are other phrasal verbs similar to “flush sth away,” such as “throw away,” “wash away,” and “get rid of.” Here’s how they differ:
- Throw away: Means to discard something by putting it in the trash. It doesn’t involve water.
- Wash away: Often means something is removed by water naturally, like dirt or soil.
- Flush away: Specifically involves using water to carry something away, often in toilets or drains.
Choosing the right phrase depends on the context and how the object is being removed.
Common Collocations
When using “flush sth away,” certain objects are commonly mentioned. These include:
- Flush paper away – disposing of toilet paper
- Flush rubbish away – getting rid of small trash
- Flush money away – losing money carelessly
- Flush chances away – wasting opportunities
- Flush chemicals away – cleaning or disposing of liquids
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of flush sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation showing “flush sth away” in use:
Anna: Did you accidentally flush the keys away?
Ben: Yes, I dropped them in the toilet and flushed them away by mistake.
Anna: Oh no! That’s a big loss.
Ben: I know, I feel like I flushed away my entire day trying to find a replacement.
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
She accidentally ______ her phone ______ in the toilet.
- a) flushed away
- b) flushed
- c) flushed it away
- d) flushed with
Answer: c) flushed it away
FAQs
- What does “flush sth away” mean? It means to wash something away with water or to lose something completely.
- Can I use “flush away” without an object? No, “flush” in this phrase is transitive and needs an object.
- Is “flush sth away” formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Can “flush sth away” be used figuratively? Yes, it can describe losing money or opportunities.
- What is a common mistake with “flush sth away”? Forgetting to include the object or mixing word order.
