What does the phrase "take away from [something]" mean?

Rebecca

To "take away from [something]" means to reduce the positive effects or success of something; to detract from it. One can also "add to something" to make it better. Here he's saying that too many fluffy words without much meaning will detract from or reduce the success of the message. Ex: I feel like the overuse of description took away from the meaning of the poem. Ex: The music really adds to the emotion of the movie. Ex: The featured artist really takes away from the song. It would be better without them in it.