# inch away

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inch-away
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to move very slowly and carefully away from something. You use this when you want to move a tiny bit at a time, often because you are nervous or trying to be quiet.

For teachers: To move gradually or by small degrees away from a point or person. This phrasal verb is intransitive and typically describes cautious, incremental movement.

## Examples

- She tried to inch away from the sleeping cat.
- When the stranger started shouting, the people at the bus stop began to inch away to find a safer spot.
- The diplomat attempted to inch away from the controversial topic, carefully steering the conversation toward more neutral ground without alerting the persistent journalists.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He inched away the edge of the cliff." but "He inched away from the edge of the cliff." — Learners often omit the preposition 'from' when 'inch away' is used to describe moving oneself.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is often followed by 'from' to show what you are moving away from.
- Teaching tip: Help students visualize the movement by explaining that an 'inch' is a very small unit of measurement, making the movement tiny and slow.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.