Phrasal verb
scare away
Definition
phrasal verb. to make a person or animal feel frightened so that they leave. You use this when you want to get rid of something by being scary or loud.
phrasal verb. To cause a person or animal to depart through fear or intimidation. The verb is transitive and can be used figuratively to describe discouraging potential participants or customers.
Examples
“The loud noise will scare away the birds.”
“If you keep shouting at the customers, you will scare away all our business.”
“The sudden appearance of the predator was enough to scare away the entire herd, leaving the watering hole deserted within seconds.”
Examples
simple
“The loud noise will scare away the birds.”
contextual
“If you keep shouting at the customers, you will scare away all our business.”
complex
“The sudden appearance of the predator was enough to scare away the entire herd, leaving the watering hole deserted within seconds.”
Usage
The object can be placed between 'scare' and 'away' or after the whole phrase.
Teaching tip
Compare with 'scare off', which is almost identical in meaning but sometimes implies a more permanent departure.
Pitfall
The dog scared away of the cat.
The dog scared away the cat.
no preposition like 'of' is needed between the particle and the object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
away
Separability
optional
Pattern
scare + away + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/scare-away