ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hide out

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford Informal

phr. v.. to stay in a secret place so that people, like the police or enemies, cannot find you.

phr. v.. to remain in a concealed location to avoid detection, capture, or unwanted attention; often implies a temporary state of evasion.


SIMPLE

The bank robbers decided to hide out in an old cabin.

CONTEXTUAL

After the scandal broke, the celebrity went to the mountains to hide out until the media interest died down.

COMPLEX

The resistance fighters were forced to hide out in the dense forest for weeks while enemy patrols combed the nearby villages.

Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hide + out
Usage

often used with the preposition 'in' or 'at' to specify the location of concealment.

Teaching tip

contrast with the simple verb 'hide'; 'hide out' suggests a longer duration and a specific intent to evade a search party or authority.

Pitfall

They are hiding out them in the cellar.They are hiding out in the cellar.this phrasal verb is intransitive; you cannot 'hide out' someone else, you can only 'hide' them.

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