What Does “Make away with sth” Mean?
“Make away with sth” means to steal or take something quickly and secretly, often implying theft or escape with an object.
Introduction
The phrase “make away with sth” is a common English phrasal verb often used to describe the act of stealing or escaping with something. Understanding the make away with sth meaning is important for learners because it appears in many everyday conversations, books, and news stories. This expression usually suggests that someone has taken an item without permission and left quickly. It is often used in contexts involving theft or disappearance of objects. Learning how to use this phrase correctly will help you sound more natural and clear in English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: make away with something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to steal or escape with something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Make away with sth” is a phrasal verb that is inseparable. This means you cannot place the object between “make” and “away”. The object always comes after the whole phrase.
Correct pattern: make away with + object
Incorrect pattern: make + object + away with
How to Use “Make away with sth”?
Use “make away with sth” when you want to say that someone has stolen something or taken it quickly without permission. It is often used in formal or narrative contexts, such as news reports or stories about theft. The phrase can refer to anything stolen, from small items to valuable possessions.
Examples
Imagine hearing a news report about a robbery. The reporter might say:
- The burglars made away with several laptops and cash.
- Thieves made away with the jewelry from the safe.
- Someone made away with my bike last night.
- The criminals made away with the stolen goods before the police arrived.
- He made away with the documents without anyone noticing.
These examples show how “make away with sth in a sentence” clearly indicates theft or quick removal of items.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the word order or try to separate the phrase incorrectly. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: She made the money away with.
- Correct: She made away with the money.
- Incorrect: They made away the items with.
- Correct: They made away with the items.
Remember, the object must come after the entire phrase “make away with”.
Differences / Synonyms
Several phrasal verbs have similar meanings to “make away with sth,” such as “run off with,” “get away with,” and “take off with.” However, there are subtle differences:
- Run off with: Often implies escaping quickly with something, usually stolen.
- Get away with: Means to do something wrong without being punished.
- Take off with: Similar to “make away with,” but less formal and more casual.
“Make away with” is more formal and emphasizes the act of stealing and escaping.
Common Collocations
Some common objects used with “make away with” include items that can be stolen or taken quickly. Here are some examples:
- Make away with money – stolen cash
- Make away with jewelry – valuable items
- Make away with documents – important papers
- Make away with goods – stolen products or merchandise
- Make away with laptops – electronic devices
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of make away with sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “make away with sth”:
Anna: Did you hear about the break-in at the store last night?
Ben: Yes, the robbers made away with all the cash and some expensive electronics.
Anna: That’s terrible! I hope they catch them soon.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence with the correct phrase:
During the robbery, the thieves __________ the valuable paintings.
- a) made away with
- b) made with away
- c) made the paintings away
- d) made away the paintings
Answer: a) made away with
FAQs
- What does “make away with sth” mean? It means to steal or escape with something quickly.
- Is “make away with” separable? No, the object always comes after the phrase.
- Can I use “make away with” in everyday conversation? Yes, but it is more common in formal or narrative contexts.
- What are synonyms for “make away with sth”? Run off with, take off with, but “get away with” has a different meaning.
- Can “make away with” be used for people? No, it is used for things or objects only.
