driveaway
Low/Medium (less common than the phrasal verb 'drive away')Informal, Technical (automotive sales)
Definition
Meaning
To depart in a vehicle, especially in a decisive or immediate manner.
To cause or force something to depart; a term in the automotive industry referring to a promotional price for a car that can be driven away immediately, excluding certain fees.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb. As a noun (e.g., 'driveaway price'), it is a closed compound specific to the automotive trade. The sense of causing something to depart is often used figuratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun ('driveaway price'), it is more firmly established in Australian and US automotive advertising. In the UK, the concept is often expressed as 'on-the-road price'. The verb form is understood in both but not highly frequent.
Connotations
As a verb, can imply speed, determination, or an emotional departure (e.g., anger). In the US/auto-sales context, it connotes a good deal and immediate possession.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to its established use in car sales marketing. In British English, the phrasal verb 'drive off' is more common for the act of departing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + driveaway + [Adverbial] (He droveaway angrily).[Subject] + driveaway + [Direct Object] (The noise droveaway the birds).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Driveaway price (noun): The all-inclusive cost to purchase and immediately take possession of a vehicle.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in automotive sales and marketing to denote an inclusive promotional price.
Academic
Rarely used; more likely in descriptive social studies of advertising or consumer behaviour.
Everyday
Informal verb for leaving quickly or causing something to leave (e.g., 'The smell droveaway the guests').
Technical
Precise term in the automotive retail industry for a specific pricing model.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- After the argument, he just got in his car and droveaway.
- The farmer used lights to driveaway the foxes from the henhouse.
American English
- She slammed the door and droveaway without a word.
- Citronella candles can help driveaway mosquitoes.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; typically part of the verb).
American English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; typically part of the verb).
adjective
British English
- The driveaway cost was clearly advertised in the window.
- They were surprised by the low driveaway offer.
American English
- What's the total driveaway price for this truck?
- The dealership's driveaway deal includes all taxes and registration.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw him driveaway in a red car.
- The cat ran when the dog drove it away.
- The advertised price is £15,000 driveaway.
- Loud music can driveaway peaceful neighbours.
- Feeling humiliated, she droveaway from the party as fast as she could.
- The new policy risks drivingaway our most loyal customers.
- The driveaway pricing scheme was designed to eliminate hidden fees and boost consumer confidence.
- His cynical attitude eventually droveaway everyone who tried to get close to him.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car dealer handing you the keys and saying, 'This is the price to DRIVE it AWAY today!'
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL/PHYSICAL REMOVAL IS FORCED DEPARTURE IN A VEHICLE (e.g., 'She droveaway her doubts').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'drive away' as two separate words, which is the more common phrasal verb.
- Avoid translating 'driveaway price' literally; Russian uses specific phrases like 'окончательная цена' or 'цена под ключ'.
- The verb 'to driveaway' (scare off) is not a direct equivalent of 'прогонять', which is broader.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it as two words when using the noun form specific to car sales (incorrect: 'drive away price').
- Overusing the compound verb where the simple 'leave' or phrasal 'drive off' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'driveaway' most commonly used as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. The verb meaning 'to depart/scare off' can be found as one word or two (drive away), though the compound is less common. The noun 'driveaway' (as in price) is always one word.
They are synonyms for departing by vehicle. 'Drive off' is far more common in everyday speech. 'Driveaway' can have a stronger nuance of a decisive or emotional departure.
Typically, it includes the vehicle cost, statutory charges (like registration and stamp duty), and sometimes a pre-delivery inspection and tank of fuel. It's meant to be the total cost to legally drive the car away.
Yes. As a verb, it often means to repel, discourage, or force the retreat of something non-physical, e.g., 'The high rents are drivingaway young artists from the city.'