What Does โRun away from sthโ Mean?
โRun away from sthโ means to escape or leave a situation or place because it is difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โrun away from sthโ is commonly used in English to describe the action of escaping or avoiding something. It can refer to physically leaving a place or avoiding a problem or responsibility. Understanding the โrun away from sth meaningโ helps you express situations where someone chooses to leave or avoid something difficult. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, stories, and writing, making it an important part of your English vocabulary.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: run away from sth (run away from something)
- Type: Intransitive (with preposition)
- Level: A2โB2
- Short meaning: To escape or leave something difficult or unpleasant
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โRun away from sthโ is a phrasal verb with a preposition. It is inseparable, meaning you cannot separate โrun awayโ and the preposition โfromโ. The object (sth) always comes after โfromโ.
Structure pattern:
- Subject + run away from + something
- Example: She ran away from the noise.
How to Use Run away from sth?
Use โrun away from sthโ when talking about physically escaping a place or avoiding a situation or responsibility. It often implies fear, avoidance, or unwillingness to face something. It can be used in past, present, or future tenses by changing the verb form (โruns away,โ โran away,โ โwill run awayโ).
Examples
People often run away from problems instead of solving them. Here are some examples of โrun away from sth in a sentenceโ:
- The child ran away from the scary dog.
- He tried to run away from his duties at work.
- She ran away from the argument because she didnโt want to fight.
- Many animals run away from danger to stay safe.
- Donโt run away from your problems; face them bravely.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the position of โfromโ or the object. Here are common mistakes:
- Incorrect: She ran away the problem.
- Correct: She ran away from the problem.
- Incorrect: He runs away it.
- Correct: He runs away from it.
Remember, always include โfromโ before the object.
Differences / Synonyms
โRun away from sthโ is similar to phrases like โescape fromโ or โavoid.โ However, โrun awayโ often implies physically leaving quickly, while โavoidโ can mean not facing something mentally or emotionally. โEscapeโ is more formal and can apply to both physical and abstract situations.
- Run away from sth: physically or mentally leaving something unpleasant
- Escape from sth: successfully getting away from danger or a place
- Avoid sth: not facing or dealing with something
Common Collocations
It is helpful to know common objects used with โrun away fromโ. These objects often relate to danger, problems, or unpleasant situations:
- Danger: physical threat or harm
- Problem: difficult situation or challenge
- Responsibility: duties or tasks someone should do
- Fear: unpleasant emotion caused by danger
- Home: a place someone leaves suddenly
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of run away from sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โrun away from sthโ:
Anna: Why did you leave the meeting early?
Tom: Honestly, I wanted to run away from the stressful questions.
Anna: I understand. Sometimes itโs hard to face tough situations.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of โrun away from sthโ:
- When the fire alarm rang, everyone _______ from the building quickly.
- She doesnโt like to _______ from her problems; she faces them bravely.
- He wanted to _______ from his responsibilities at work.
FAQ
- What does โrun away from sthโ mean?
It means to escape or avoid something difficult or dangerous. - Is โrun away fromโ separable?
No, you cannot separate โrun awayโ and โfromโ. - Can I use โrun away fromโ for problems?
Yes, it can be used for physical or mental escape. - What is the difference between โrun away fromโ and โescape fromโ?
โRun away fromโ often implies quick physical leaving, while โescape fromโ can be formal and broader. - Is โrun away fromโ formal or informal?
It is common in both informal and neutral contexts.

