What Does “Frighten sb away” Mean?
“Frighten sb away” means to scare someone so much that they leave or avoid a place or situation.
Introduction
The phrase “frighten sb away” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe situations where someone is scared or intimidated enough to leave or stay away. Understanding the “frighten sb away meaning” helps learners recognize and use this phrase naturally in conversations. It is often used in everyday speech to talk about animals, people, or even customers who leave because of fear or discomfort. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile addition to your English vocabulary.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: frighten somebody away
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To scare someone so they leave or do not come near
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Frighten sb away” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (someone) between “frighten” and “away” or after “away.”
- Pattern 1: frighten + sb + away
Example: The loud noise frightened the birds away. - Pattern 2: frighten + away + sb
Example: The loud noise frightened away the birds.
How to Use “Frighten sb away”?
Use “frighten sb away” when you want to describe a situation where fear causes someone to leave or avoid something. It is often followed by a person or animal as the object and can describe physical or emotional fear. It can be used in various contexts, such as animals leaving a place, customers avoiding a shop, or people retreating from a scary situation.
Examples
Here are some natural examples to help you understand how to use “frighten sb away in a sentence”:
- The loud barking frightened the burglars away before the police arrived.
- Bright lights at night can frighten birds away from their nests.
- High prices may frighten customers away from buying products.
- She didn’t want to frighten her new puppy away by being too loud.
- The strange noises frightened the campers away from the forest.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or forget to include the object. Here are some common errors:
- Incorrect: The loud noise frightened away.
- Correct: The loud noise frightened the birds away.
- Incorrect: Frighten away the people the loud sound did.
- Correct: The loud sound frightened the people away.
Remember, the object (someone) is necessary for the sentence to make sense.
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrasal verbs like “scare off” or “drive away” have similar meanings but slight differences:
- Scare off: Often informal, means to make someone leave because they are scared. Example: The guard scared off the thieves.
- Drive away: Can mean forcing someone to leave, not always because of fear. Example: Bad service drove customers away.
“Frighten sb away” specifically focuses on fear as the reason someone leaves.
Common Collocations
Here are common objects and contexts used with “frighten sb away”:
- Animals: birds, dogs, cats, wildlife
- People: customers, visitors, children, guests
- Situations: noise, danger, bad weather, bright lights
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of frighten sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “frighten sb away”:
Anna: Did the loud music frighten the neighbors away?
Ben: Yes, they left early because it was too noisy.
Anna: I guess we should keep the volume down next time.
Practice
Choose the best option to complete the sentence:
“The scary movie ______ many viewers away.”
- a) frightened
- b) frightened away
- c) frightened the
- d) frightened away the
Answer: d) frightened away the
FAQs
- What does “frighten sb away” mean? It means to scare someone so much that they leave or avoid a place or situation.
- Is “frighten sb away” separable? Yes, you can place the object either between “frighten” and “away” or after “away.”
- Can “frighten sb away” be used for animals? Yes, it is often used to describe animals leaving because they are scared.
- What is a synonym for “frighten sb away”? Synonyms include “scare off” and “drive away,” but they have slightly different meanings.
- Is “frighten sb away” formal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
