What are the definitions of “shut away”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Imprison or remove someone's freedom.
Many people have been SHUT AWAY in psychiatric hospitals for disagreeing with the government.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “shut away”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb shut away is to imprison or remove someone's freedom, often by confining them to a specific place. This can be used to describe someone being locked up in a room, a prison, or any other place where their freedom is restricted.
What are the different verb forms of “shut away”?
| Root Verb | shut away |
| Third Person Singular Present | shuts away |
| Present Participle | shutting away |
| Simple Past | shut away |
| Past Participle | shut away |
Example
The criminal was shut away in a high-security prison.
Example
The government shuts away those who oppose its policies.
Example
The guards are shutting away the prisoners in their cells.
Example
The king shut away his enemies in the dungeon.
Example
The rebels had been shut away for years before they were released.
What kind of phrasal verb is “shut 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
“shut 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 police shut the criminal away in a cell.
Example
The parents shut their child away in the room as punishment.
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
“shut 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 police shut the criminal away in a cell.
Example
The parents shut their child away in the room as punishment.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “shut away”?
Good things to know
Does “shut away” have an informal or formal tone?
Shut away is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal writing or discussions, depending on the specific context.
