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Phrasal verbs "steal away" vs "take away"

Differences between steal away and take away

Steal away means to leave quietly or secretly without being noticed, while take away means to remove something from a place or person.

Meanings and Definitions: steal away vs take away

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Steal away

  • 1Leave a place quietly or secretly.

    We didn't want to wake them, so we STOLE AWAY in the middle of the night.

Take away

  • 1Remove.

    The police TOOK the protestors AWAY.

Usage Examples: steal away, take away in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

steal away

Example

They decided to steal away from the party early.

Example

She often steals away from work to take a break.

take away

Example

Please take away the dirty dishes from the table.

Example

She takes away the toys after the children finish playing.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Steal away

slip away

To leave a place quietly or unnoticed.

Example

She decided to slip away from the party early to avoid the crowd.

escape unnoticed

To leave a place without being seen or detected.

Example

He managed to escape unnoticed from the office to attend his daughter's school play.

sneak out

To leave a place quietly or secretly, often without permission.

Example

She had to sneak out of her house to meet her friends since her parents didn't allow her to go out that night.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Take away

remove

To take something away from a place or person.

Example

He had to remove the old furniture from the living room to make space for the new one.

carry out

To take something away from a place, often food or drinks.

Example

We decided to carry out pizza for dinner since we didn't feel like cooking.

clear out

To remove everything from a place or surface.

Example

He had to clear out his desk before leaving the office for good.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “steal”

Phrasal Verbs with “away”

Differences in steal away vs take away: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: steal away or take away?

In daily conversation, people use take away more often than steal away. This is because take away is used for more daily tasks and routines such as taking food to go or removing an object from a room. Steal away is not used as much. It's mainly used when we're talking about leaving a place quietly or secretly. So, while both phrases are used, take away is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of steal away and take away

Steal away and take away are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of steal away and take away

The tone of steal away and take away can differ based on context. Steal away often carries a secretive or sneaky tone when related to leaving a place, while take away typically has a practical and casual tone, especially when referring to removing objects or food.

steal away & take away: Synonyms and Antonyms

Steal away

Synonyms

  • sneak away
  • slip away
  • sneak off
  • creep away
  • depart quietly
  • leave secretly

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