What Does โFrighten sb away from sthโ Mean?
โFrighten sb away from sthโ means to scare someone so much that they avoid or stop doing something.
Introduction
The phrase โfrighten sb away from sthโ is a common English phrasal verb used to describe a situation where fear causes someone to avoid a person, place, or activity. Understanding the โfrighten sb away from sth meaningโ helps learners express how fear influences decisions or actions clearly. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, especially when discussing reasons why people might hesitate to try something new or stay away from certain situations. Knowing how to use this phrase naturally can improve your communication skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: frighten somebody away from something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To scare someone so they avoid something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โFrighten sb away from sthโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between โfrightenโ and โaway,โ but the preposition โfromโ always follows.
- Pattern 1: frighten + somebody + away + from + something
- Example: The loud noise frightened her away from the park.
- Pattern 2 (less common): frighten away + somebody + from + something
- Example: The noise frightened away the children from the playground.
How to Use โFrighten sb away from sthโ?
Use this phrase when you want to explain that fear caused someone to avoid a particular thing. It can refer to people, animals, or even ideas. The phrase often appears in contexts involving warnings, dangers, or negative experiences.
For example, you might say, โThe bad reviews frightened customers away from the restaurant,โ meaning the customers avoided the restaurant because of fear or concern.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences showing how to use โfrighten sb away from sth in a sentenceโ:
- The barking dog frightened visitors away from the house.
- High prices and poor service frightened many buyers away from the store.
- She was frightened away from trying skydiving after hearing about an accident.
- The strict rules frightened students away from joining the club.
- Unfriendly staff frightened tourists away from the hotel.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use incorrect prepositions. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: The noise frightened away from the park the children.
- Correct: The noise frightened the children away from the park.
- Incorrect: The scary movie frightened her off the theater.
- Correct: The scary movie frightened her away from the theater.
Remember to keep the object (sb) close to โfrightenโ and always use โaway fromโ together.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include โscare sb offโ and โdrive sb away,โ but they have subtle differences.
- Frighten sb away from sth: Focuses on fear causing avoidance of something specific.
- Scare sb off: More informal; to cause someone to leave or avoid by frightening them.
- Drive sb away: Can be caused by many negative factors, not just fear.
For example, โThe loud noise frightened the birds away from the field,โ but โThe bad smell drove customers awayโ (not necessarily fear).
Common Collocations
This phrasal verb often pairs with specific nouns, which describe what someone is scared away from:
- Frighten sb away from a place: park, house, hotel, playground
- Frighten sb away from an activity: skydiving, swimming, joining a club
- Frighten sb away from a person or group: friends, team, company
These collocations help express clear and natural ideas.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of frighten sb away from sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โfrighten sb away from sthโ:
Anna: Did you hear why Tom stopped going to the gym?
Ben: Yes, the crowded space and loud music frightened him away from the gym.
Anna: Thatโs too bad. I thought he enjoyed working out.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of โfrighten sb away from sthโ:
- The broken elevator _______ many residents _______ the building.
- Bad weather can sometimes _______ tourists _______ outdoor activities.
- Donโt let small problems _______ you _______ trying new things.
FAQs
- Q: Can โfrighten sb away from sthโ be used in formal writing?
A: Yes, it is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Is โfrighten sb awayโ separable?
A: Yes, the object usually goes between โfrightenโ and โaway.โ
- Q: What is the difference between โfrighten sb awayโ and โscare sb offโ?
A: โFrighten sb awayโ often focuses on avoiding something specific, while โscare sb offโ is more informal and general.
- Q: Can animals be frightened away from places?
A: Yes, this phrase is commonly used with animals as well.
- Q: Is โfrighten sb away from sthโ only about fear?
A: Primarily yes, it implies fear causing avoidance.
