ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hide away

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to go to a place where other people cannot find you or see you.

phr. v.. to conceal oneself or something else in a secluded location; often used intransitively to describe seeking privacy or avoiding social contact.


SIMPLE

I like to hide away in the library and read.

CONTEXTUAL

After the stressful meeting, she decided to hide away in her office for the rest of the afternoon.

COMPLEX

The novelist chose to hide away in a remote coastal cottage to finish her manuscript without the distractions of city life.

Particles
away
Separability
optional
Pattern
hide + (object) + away
Usage

can be used with an object (to hide something away) or without one (to hide yourself away).

Teaching tip

contrast with 'hide' (the simple act of concealment); 'hide away' emphasizes the distance or the duration of being out of sight, often for comfort or safety.

Pitfall

He is hiding away his keys.He is hiding his keys.while 'hide away' can take an object, it usually implies a long-term or secret storage; for simple daily actions, 'hide' is more natural.

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