What Does โSmooth sth awayโ Mean?
โSmooth sth awayโ means to make something unpleasant or unwanted disappear or less noticeable by making it smooth or even. It often refers to removing wrinkles, marks, or problems.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โsmooth sth awayโ is commonly used in everyday English to describe the act of removing or reducing something negative or unwanted. Whether you are talking about smoothing away wrinkles on fabric or smoothing away tension in a conversation, this phrase helps express the idea of making things better or more pleasant. Understanding the smooth sth away meaning can improve your ability to describe actions clearly and naturally in English. This guide will explain how to use it, provide examples, and highlight common mistakes.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: smooth something away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Meaning: to remove or reduce something by making it smooth or even
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โSmooth sth awayโ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the object can come between the verb and the particle or after the particle:
- Smooth the wrinkles away.
- Smooth away the wrinkles.
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common when the object is short.
How to Use Smooth sth away?
You use โsmooth sth awayโ when you want to talk about making something unpleasant or rough disappear or less obvious. It is often used with physical things like wrinkles, marks, or bumps, but also with abstract things like tension or worries.
For example, you might smooth away a crease on your shirt or smooth away doubts during a discussion. Itโs a versatile phrase that adds clarity and a natural tone to your speech or writing.
Examples
Here are some examples of โsmooth sth awayโ in a sentence to help you understand its use:
- She smoothed the wrinkles away from the tablecloth before the guests arrived.
- He tried to smooth away the tension after the argument.
- Use this cream to smooth away dry patches on your skin.
- The teacherโs kind words helped smooth away the studentsโ worries.
- She carefully smoothed away the paint drips on the wall.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse โsmooth sth awayโ with similar phrases or use the wrong word order. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: Smooth away the wrinkles it.
- Correct: Smooth the wrinkles away.
- Incorrect: He smoothed away tension it.
- Correct: He smoothed away the tension.
Remember to place the object correctly and include โawayโ after the verb or after the object.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include โwipe away,โ โrub away,โ and โbrush away.โ The main difference is that โsmooth sth awayโ implies making the surface even or removing something by making it flat, while โwipe awayโ or โrub awayโ focus more on cleaning or removing by friction.
For example:
- โWipe away tearsโ means to remove tears with a tissue or hand.
- โSmooth away wrinklesโ means to make wrinkles less visible by flattening them.
Common Collocations
You will often hear โsmooth sth awayโ with these objects:
- Wrinkles: lines on fabric or skin
- Tension: stress or nervousness in a situation
- Marks: stains or spots on surfaces
- Creases: folds in fabric or paper
- Worries: feelings of anxiety
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of smooth sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โsmooth sth awayโ:
Anna: Your shirt has some wrinkles. Did you smooth them away before coming?
Ben: I tried, but they didnโt all come out.
Anna: No worries. Iโll help you smooth them away quickly.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) She smoothed away the stain on her dress.
- B) She smoothed the stain away on her dress.
- C) She smoothed the stain away on her dress.
- D) She smoothed the stain away on her dress.
Fill in the blank: He tried to _______ the tension away before the meeting started.
FAQ
- What does โsmooth sth awayโ mean? It means to remove or reduce something unpleasant by making it smooth or even.
- Is โsmooth sth awayโ separable? Yes, you can place the object between โsmoothโ and โawayโ or after โaway.โ
- Can โsmooth sth awayโ be used for feelings? Yes, it can describe reducing tension or worries.
- What level is this phrasal verb? It is suitable for B1 (Intermediate) learners.
- Can I use โsmooth awayโ without an object? Usually, it needs an object to complete the meaning.
