What Does “Scare sb away” Mean?
“Scare sb away” means to frighten someone so much that they leave or avoid a place, person, or situation.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “scare sb away” is common in everyday English. It describes a situation where someone is frightened or intimidated enough to leave or stay away. Understanding the “scare sb away meaning” helps learners recognize when fear or discomfort causes avoidance. This phrase is often used to talk about animals, people, or customers who are driven off by something unpleasant or threatening.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: scare somebody away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Meaning: to frighten someone so they leave or avoid something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Scare sb away” is a separable phrasal verb. The object (sb) goes between “scare” and “away.”
Pattern:
- Scare + somebody + away
- Example: The loud noise scared the birds away.
How to Use Scare sb away?
Use “scare sb away” when describing situations where fear causes someone or something to leave. It is often followed by the person or animal being frightened. You can use it in past, present, or future tenses.
Examples:
- Don’t scare the children away with loud noises.
- The smell of the chemicals scared the workers away.
Examples
Imagine a garden where birds usually come to eat. If a cat appears, the birds might fly away quickly.
- The cat scared the birds away from the garden.
- His rude behavior scared the customers away.
- The loud thunder scared the dog away.
- She scared the pests away by using natural repellents.
- Heavy traffic scares tourists away from the city center.
These examples show “scare sb away in a sentence” with different subjects and objects.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the position of the object or use the wrong preposition.
- Incorrect: Scare away the birds.
- Correct: Scare the birds away.
- Incorrect: Scare sb off (different phrasal verb, different meaning).
- Correct: Don’t scare the customers away.
Remember, “scare sb away” always separates the object and “away.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Scare sb away” is similar to “drive sb away” or “push sb away,” but with a focus on fear.
- Drive sb away: Can mean forcing someone to leave by any means, not just fear.
- Push sb away: Usually emotional or physical distance, not necessarily fear.
- Scare sb off: Means the same as “scare sb away” but slightly less common.
Use “scare sb away” when fear is the main cause of leaving.
Common Collocations
People often use “scare sb away” with these objects:
- Animals: birds, dogs, pests, insects
- People: customers, guests, children, visitors
- Other: problems, noise, threats
For example, “The loud noise scared the guests away.”
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of scare sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Two friends talk about a new restaurant that lost customers.
Anna: Did you hear why so many people stopped going to that restaurant?
Ben: Yeah, the rude waiter scared the customers away.
Anna: That’s a shame. They had good food.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “scare sb away.”
- The loud music _______ the neighbors _______ last night.
- Don’t _______ the children _______ with scary stories.
- The new policy might _______ potential buyers _______.
FAQ
- What does “scare sb away” mean? It means to frighten someone so they leave or avoid a place or situation.
- Is “scare sb away” separable? Yes, the object goes between “scare” and “away.”
- Can I use “scare sb away” with animals? Yes, it is common to say things like “scare the birds away.”
- What is the difference between “scare sb away” and “drive sb away”? “Scare sb away” involves fear, while “drive sb away” can be any forceful action.
- Is “scare sb off” the same as “scare sb away”? Yes, they mean similar things, but “scare sb away” is more common.
