What Does โHide sth awayโ Mean?
โHide sth awayโ means to put something in a secret or safe place so that others cannot see or find it easily.
Introduction
The phrase โhide sth awayโ is a common phrasal verb in English. It is used when someone wants to keep something secret or safe by placing it somewhere hidden. For example, you might hide money away in a drawer or hide a gift away from someoneโs sight. Understanding the hide sth away meaning is useful because it helps you describe actions involving secrecy or protection of objects. This phrase is often used in everyday conversations, stories, and even formal writing. Knowing how to use it correctly will improve your English skills and help you sound more natural.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: hide sth away (hide something away)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to put something in a secret or safe place
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โHide sth awayโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between โhideโ and โawayโ or after โaway.โ
- hide + object + away: She hides her savings away.
- hide away + object: He hid away the letters.
Both forms are correct, but the first form (with the object between the verb and particle) is more common in spoken English.
How to Use โHide sth awayโ?
Use โhide sth awayโ when talking about putting something somewhere secret or safe. It is usually followed by the thing you want to hide. You can use it in past, present, or future tenses by changing the verb โhideโ accordingly (hid, hiding, will hide).
Examples:
- I hide my emergency cash away in a safe place.
- She hid the birthday presents away so no one would find them.
- They will hide the documents away before the meeting.
Examples
People often hide things away to keep them safe or private. Here are some natural examples using โhide sth away in a sentenceโ:
- My grandmother hides her jewelry away in a locked box.
- He hides away his favorite books so his little brother doesnโt damage them.
- We should hide the spare keys away so no one else can find them.
- She hid away the chocolate so the kids wouldnโt eat it all.
Common Mistakes
Itโs easy to make mistakes with โhide sth away,โ especially with word order. People sometimes say โhide away sth,โ which is incorrect.
- Incorrect: She hide away the money.
- Correct: She hides the money away.
- Incorrect: I hid away it in the drawer.
- Correct: I hid it away in the drawer.
Remember, the object should always come before or after โaway,โ not between โawayโ and the object.
Differences / Synonyms
There are similar phrasal verbs like โput away,โ โstash away,โ and โlock away.โ While all involve placing something somewhere, โhide sth awayโ focuses on secrecy or keeping something out of sight.
- Put away: means to return something to its proper place, not necessarily secret.
- Stash away: very similar to โhide away,โ often used for storing money or valuables secretly.
- Lock away: means to secure something with a lock, emphasizing safety rather than secrecy.
For example, โstash away moneyโ and โhide money awayโ are almost interchangeable, but โput away moneyโ usually means saving money rather than hiding it.
Common Collocations
We often hide away certain objects when we want to keep them safe or secret. Here are common collocations with โhide sth awayโ:
- Money: to keep cash in a secret place.
- Documents: important papers kept hidden.
- Jewelry: valuable items stored safely.
- Gifts: presents hidden before a special occasion.
- Food: snacks or treats kept out of sight.
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โhide sth awayโ:
Anna: Where did you put the surprise gift?
Ben: I hid it away in the closet so no one will find it.
Anna: Good idea! Itโs better to keep it a secret until the party.
Practice
Try to fill in the blanks with the correct form of โhide sth awayโ:
- She _______ her savings _______ in a secret drawer.
- We need to _______ these old letters _______ before guests arrive.
- He is _______ his birthday presents _______ so his sister wonโt see them.
FAQs
- Q: Can โhide sth awayโ be used in formal writing?
A: Yes, it can be used, but it is more common in informal contexts.
- Q: Is โhide sth awayโ separable or inseparable?
A: It is separable; the object can go between โhideโ and โawayโ or after โaway.โ
- Q: What is a synonym for โhide sth awayโ?
A: โStash awayโ is a common synonym with a similar meaning.
- Q: Can you use โhide awayโ without an object?
A: Usually, โhide awayโ is used with an object, but โhide awayโ alone can mean to stay hidden or isolated.
- Q: How do I pronounce โhide sth awayโ?
A: Pronounce it clearly as โhideโ + object + โaway,โ stressing โhideโ and โaway.โ
