What are the definitions of “scare away”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Frighten someone some much that they go away.
The cat SCARED the birds AWAY.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “scare away”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb scare away is to frighten someone or something so much that they leave or go away. For example, it can mean making a loud noise to scare away birds or using a scary mask to frighten someone.
What are the different verb forms of “scare away”?
| Root Verb | scare away |
| Third Person Singular Present | scares away |
| Present Participle | scaring away |
| Simple Past | scared away |
| Past Participle | scared away |
Example
The dog scared away the intruder.
Example
She scares away the pigeons from her garden.
Example
He is scaring away the crows with a scarecrow.
Example
Yesterday, they scared away the raccoons from the trash cans.
Example
The loud noise scared away the deer from the road.
What kind of phrasal verb is “scare away”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“scare away” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The loud music scared away the guests.
Example
He scared the birds away with a loud clap.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“scare away” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The loud music scared away the guests.
Example
He scared the birds away with a loud clap.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “scare away”?
To do something that makes competitors unwilling or unable to compete with you.
Example
Their aggressive marketing strategy scared away the competition.
Good things to know
Does “scare away” have an informal or formal tone?
Scare away is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, depending on the specific context.
