Leave sth aside Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Leave sth aside” Mean?

“Leave something aside” means to temporarily stop thinking about or dealing with something in order to focus on other matters.

Introduction

The phrase “leave sth aside” is a common English expression used when someone wants to put a topic, problem, or task out of consideration for the moment. This allows them to concentrate on something more important or relevant at that time. Understanding the leave sth aside meaning helps learners use the phrase naturally in conversations and writing. It’s especially useful in discussions, meetings, or everyday chats when prioritizing topics or setting issues aside for later. Knowing how to use this phrase correctly can improve clarity and show good communication skills.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: leave something aside
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To stop considering something temporarily

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Leave sth aside” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between “leave” and “aside” or after the whole phrase.

• Leave + object + aside (e.g., Leave the problem aside)
• Leave aside + object (less common but possible in some contexts)

Since “something” is usually a noun or pronoun, it is often placed between the verb and the particle.

How to Use “Leave sth aside”?

Use “leave sth aside” when you want to pause or ignore a subject temporarily. It often appears in conversations about priorities, decisions, or discussions where certain issues are put on hold. It can also mean to ignore personal feelings or opinions to focus on facts.

Examples

When discussing a difficult topic, you might say:

• “Let’s leave the budget concerns aside for now and focus on the project timeline.”
• “I will leave my personal feelings aside and give you honest feedback.”
• “We need to leave aside minor details and look at the bigger picture.”
• “Please leave that argument aside so we can find a solution.”
• “He decided to leave aside his doubts and try the new method.”

These examples show “leave sth aside in a sentence” used to indicate setting something aside temporarily or ignoring it.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the order or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are common errors and corrections:

• Incorrect: “Leave aside the problem.” (Less natural in everyday speech)
• Correct: “Leave the problem aside.”
• Incorrect: “Leave aside it.”
• Correct: “Leave it aside.”
• Incorrect: “Leave aside for now the discussion.”
• Correct: “Leave the discussion aside for now.”

Remember, placing the object immediately after “leave” is the most natural pattern.

Differences / Synonyms

“Leave sth aside” is similar to “put sth aside” and “set sth aside,” but with slight differences:

• Put sth aside: Often means saving or reserving something, like money or time.
• Set sth aside: Can mean legally ignoring something temporarily or physically moving something.
• Leave sth aside: Usually means to stop thinking about or discussing something temporarily.

For example, “put aside money” is common, but “leave money aside” is less natural. “Leave aside personal opinions” focuses on ignoring thoughts temporarily.

Common Collocations

“Leave sth aside” is often used with topics, feelings, problems, or issues. Here are some common collocations:

• Leave a problem aside: To stop focusing on a problem temporarily.
• Leave feelings aside: To ignore emotions for the moment.
• Leave a topic aside: To pause discussion on a subject.
• Leave doubts aside: To stop worrying or doubting.
• Leave arguments aside: To stop arguing or debating.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of leave sth aside:

• Leave Sb Out
• Leave Sb Off
• Leave Sb Out Of Sth
• Leave Sth Behind
• Leave Off Doing Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “leave sth aside”:

Anna: We have a lot to discuss, but the budget issues are complicated.

Mark: I agree. Let’s leave the budget aside for now and focus on the project deadlines.

Anna: Good idea. We can return to the budget once we have a clear schedule.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “leave sth aside”:

• We should _________ the minor details ________ until the main problem is solved.
• Can you ________ your personal opinions ________ during the meeting?
• Let’s ________ the argument ________ and find a solution.

FAQs

• What does “leave sth aside” mean? It means to stop thinking about or dealing with something temporarily.
• Is “leave sth aside” formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Can I use “leave aside” instead of “leave sth aside”? It’s less common; usually, the object comes between “leave” and “aside.”
• What is the difference between “leave aside” and “put aside”? “Leave aside” means to ignore temporarily, while “put aside” often means saving or reserving.
• Can I use “leave sth aside” with feelings? Yes, it is common to say “leave feelings aside” to ignore emotions temporarily.