hideaway
B2informal
Definition
Meaning
A secluded, private place where someone goes to escape notice.
A private or secret place, often small and cozy, used for retreat or privacy. Can also refer to a person who hides.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a physical location, but can be used figuratively. Connotes secrecy, comfort, and intentional removal from public view.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both varieties use the word with the same meaning and similar frequency.
Connotations
Slight connotation of rural charm or quaintness; less likely to be used for a grand or luxurious retreat.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, but widely used and understood in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
a hideaway for + noun (a hideaway for writers)someone's hideawayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms specifically with 'hideaway'. Often used in phrases like 'love nest hideaway' or 'weekend hideaway'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could refer informally to a private office or a company retreat location (e.g., 'The CEO's mountain hideaway').
Academic
Very rare; more literary or descriptive.
Everyday
Common for describing holiday cottages, private gardens, or a favorite quiet room.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They decided to hide away from the paparazzi in their country cottage.
- We need to hide away these documents until the meeting.
American English
- She wanted to hide away from the world for a few days.
- Let's hide away the Christmas presents in the attic.
adjective
British English
- They booked a hideaway cottage in the Lake District.
- He showed me his hideaway study at the back of the garden.
American English
- We found a perfect hideaway cabin in the woods.
- She has a hideaway office downtown where she writes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children have a little hideaway in the garden.
- This café is my favourite hideaway.
- They spent the weekend in their coastal hideaway.
- His study was a quiet hideaway from the busy house.
- The writer found the perfect hideaway in a remote French village to finish her novel.
- The film star's luxurious hideaway was discovered by a drone.
- The political dissident maintained several safe houses, each a discreet hideaway for a few months at a time.
- The architectural design focused on creating an urban hideaway, shielded from the city's noise by clever landscaping.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a place you can HIDE AWAY from everyone.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIVACY IS A PHYSICAL ENCLOSURE / ESCAPE IS A LOCATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'hide' and 'away' as 'прятать прочь'. The word is a single noun meaning 'убежище', 'укромное место'.
- Do not confuse with 'hideout' (which has a more negative, criminal connotation). 'Hideaway' is neutral or positive.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'I need to hideaway this weekend.'). It is primarily a noun.
- Confusing spelling: 'hide away' (verb phrase) vs. 'hideaway' (noun).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'hideaway'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning a secluded place, it is one word: 'hideaway'. The two-word form 'hide away' is a verb phrase meaning to conceal oneself or something.
A 'hideaway' is generally a neutral or positive place for privacy or relaxation. A 'hideout' strongly implies a secret place used by someone hiding from the law or in danger.
Yes, it can be used attributively (before a noun) as a compound adjective, e.g., 'a hideaway cabin', 'hideaway beach'.
No, it is informal. More formal synonyms include 'retreat', 'sanctuary', or 'seclusion'.