What are the definitions of “shut yourself away”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Withdraw from company.
She's SHUT herself AWAY to revise for her exams.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “shut yourself away”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb shut yourself away is to isolate oneself from others, usually to focus on a specific task or to avoid social interactions. For example, it can mean staying in a room alone to study for an exam or avoiding people when feeling sad or overwhelmed.
What are the different verb forms of “shut yourself away”?
| Root Verb | shut yourself away |
| Third Person Singular Present | shuts themselves away |
| Present Participle | shutting yourself away |
| Simple Past | shut themselves away |
| Past Participle | shut themselves away |
Example
She shut herself away in her room to study for the test.
Example
He shuts himself away when he needs to concentrate on his work.
Example
She is shutting herself away to finish her project on time.
Example
They shut themselves away to prepare for the big presentation.
Example
He had shut himself away to deal with his emotions.
What kind of phrasal verb is “shut yourself 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.)
Intransitive verb
“shut yourself away” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
She shut herself away to focus on her studies.
Example
He shut himself away when he was feeling overwhelmed.
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 yourself 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
She shut herself away to focus on her studies.
Example
He shut himself away when he was feeling overwhelmed.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “shut yourself away”?
Good things to know
Does “shut yourself away” have an informal or formal tone?
Shut yourself away is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. However, it is more often used in informal speech and casual situations.
