What Does โShut sth awayโ Mean?
โShut sth awayโ means to put something somewhere safe or hidden, usually by closing or locking it up.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โshut sth awayโ is used when you want to describe putting an item out of sight or securing it by closing it inside a place. For example, you might shut away important documents in a safe or shut away toys in a cupboard. Understanding the โshut sth away meaningโ helps learners use it correctly in everyday conversations and writing. This phrase emphasizes the action of closing something to keep it safe or hidden, and it is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: shut something away
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To close something in a safe or hidden place
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โShut sth awayโ is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it always needs an object (the โsomethingโ). It is separable, so you can put the object between โshutโ and โawayโ or after โawayโ.
- shut something away (correct)
- shut away something (also correct but less common)
Example patterns:
- Subject + shut + object + away
- Subject + shut + away + object
How to Use Shut sth away?
Use โshut sth awayโ when you want to talk about locking or putting something in a safe or hidden place. It often implies protection or keeping things out of sight. This phrasal verb fits well in sentences about storing valuables, secrets, or items you do not want out in the open.
Examples
Imagine you have valuable jewelry that you do not want to lose or show to others. You might say:
- I shut my jewelry away in the safe every night.
- She shut away all her old letters in a box under the bed.
- They shut away the cleaning supplies where children couldnโt reach them.
- He shut away his feelings after the difficult conversation.
- We shut away the extra food in the pantry to keep it fresh.
These examples show โshut sth away in a sentenceโ clearly in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse โshut awayโ with similar phrases or forget to include the object. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I shut away in the closet. (Missing object)
- Correct: I shut my tools away in the closet.
- Incorrect: She shut away her books. (Less clear without the place)
- Correct: She shut away her books in the cabinet.
Differences / Synonyms
โShut sth awayโ is similar to โput awayโ and โlock away,โ but there are differences:
- Put away: Means to store or tidy something, but not necessarily locked or hidden.
- Lock away: Focuses on locking something securely, often stronger than just โshut away.โ
- Shut away: Implies closing and hiding something, possibly locking, but not always explicitly locked.
Use โshut awayโ when you want to emphasize closing and hiding something, not just putting it somewhere.
Common Collocations
You will often find โshut awayโ used with objects that need protection or hiding. Here are common collocations:
- Documents โ important papers stored safely
- Jewelry โ valuable items kept locked
- Food โ stored to keep fresh or safe
- Feelings โ emotional states kept private
- Tools โ equipment stored to avoid loss or danger
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of shut sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โshut sth awayโ:
Anna: Where did you put the old photos?
Ben: I shut them away in the drawer so they donโt get damaged.
Anna: Good idea. We should keep them safe.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of โshut awayโ:
- She _______ her passport _______ in the safe before traveling.
- We always _______ the cleaning products _______ where kids canโt reach.
- He _______ his worries _______ and didnโt talk about them.
FAQ
- Q: Is โshut sth awayโ separable?
A: Yes, you can place the object between โshutโ and โawayโ or after โaway.โ
- Q: Can โshut awayโ be used for emotions?
A: Yes, it can describe hiding or suppressing feelings.
- Q: What is the difference between โshut awayโ and โlock awayโ?
A: โLock awayโ emphasizes locking securely, while โshut awayโ means closing and hiding, not always locked.
- Q: Is โshut awayโ formal or informal?
A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can I say โshut away the doorโ?
A: No, โshut awayโ is used with objects being stored or hidden, not with doors.
