Is 'keep away' separable?

Yes. You can say 'keep the dog away' or 'keep away the dog', though the former (pronoun object order) is much more common and natural.

What's the difference between 'keep away', 'keep off', and 'keep out'?

'Keep away' is general distance. 'Keep off' means not to step or place something on a surface (e.g., 'keep off the grass'). 'Keep out' means not to enter a specific enclosed or defined area (e.g., 'keep out of my room').

Can 'keep away' be used without 'from'?

Yes, in commands ('Keep away!') or when the object of avoidance is clear from context. However, to specify what is being avoided, 'from' is needed.

Is 'Keep Away' a real game?

Yes, especially in American English. It's a game where two or more players try to keep a ball (or object) away from a designated player in the middle.

keep away

UK/ˌkiːp əˈweɪ/US/ˌkip əˈweɪ/

Informal, neutral, occasionally formal in specific phrasal constructions (e.g., "keep away from hazardous materials").

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

To maintain a physical or metaphorical distance from someone or something, to avoid coming into contact with or proximity to.

To prevent someone or something from approaching, accessing, or obtaining something; also refers to a children's game of tag or chase.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily used as a transitive phrasal verb (keep someone/something away). The imperative "Keep away!" is a common warning. Can imply protective intent or a desire for exclusion.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The children's game is more commonly called "Keep Away" in AmE, while "Tag" or "It" is the generic term. BrE might use "keep away" to describe the game but also uses "Tag". The phrasal verb usage is identical.

Connotations

Similar in both, though the game connotation is slightly stronger in American cultural references.

Frequency

Comparably frequent in both dialects for the core meaning.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

keep away fromkeep away from the edgekeep the dog awaykeep children away

medium

keep something awaykeep him/her awaykeep well awaykeep safely away

weak

keep away from troublekeep away from the firekeep away duringkeep away until

Grammar

Valency Patterns

keep [sb/sth] away (from [sb/sth])keep away (from [sb/sth])

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

shuneschewabstain from

Neutral

stay awayavoidsteer clear of

Weak

don't go nearkeep your distancestand back

Vocabulary

Antonyms

approachgo neardraw closeengage with

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Keep away! (as a warning)”
“To play keep-away (game)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

"We must keep away from risky investments this quarter."

Academic

"The study advises keeping away from sources of methodological bias."

Everyday

"Keep away from the stove, it's hot."

Technical

"The safety protocol is designed to keep personnel away from the radiation zone."

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

Please keep your dog away from my garden.
The police set up a cordon to keep the public away.
She tried to keep away from the city centre during the sales.

American English

Keep that cat away from the new couch.
The fence is there to keep away trespassers.
He's keeping away from sugar for his health.

adverb

British English

Not commonly used as an adverb.

American English

Not commonly used as an adverb.

adjective

British English

Not commonly used as an adjective.

American English

Not commonly used as an adjective.

Examples

By CEFR Level

Keep away from the road!
The mother told her child to keep away from the hot oven.
My medicine says 'keep away from children'.

You should keep away from that neighbourhood at night.
We built a fence to keep the rabbits away from the vegetables.
The government warned people to keep away from the coastline during the storm.

His aloof manner kept potential friends away.
The company's reputation for poor treatment keeps talented applicants away.
I'm trying to keep away from political discussions on social media.

The encryption software is designed to keep hackers away from sensitive data.
Her intimidating expertise kept critics away from challenging her findings.
A charismatic leader can keep disquiet and dissent away from the public eye.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a KEEPer (goalkeeper) in football whose job is to keep the ball AWAY from the goal.

Conceptual Metaphor

SAFETY/DANGER IS DISTANCE/CLOSENESS. Keeping away creates a safe zone.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid literal translation as *"держать далеко"*. Use "держаться подальше (от)", "не подпускать" (to prevent from approaching), or "избегать" (to avoid).
Confusing with "keep off" (не наступать) or "keep out" (не входить). "Keep away" is about maintaining general distance.

Common Mistakes

*I kept away him. (Incorrect order: I kept him away.)
*You should keep away to touch that. (Incorrect preposition: You should keep away from touching that.)
Using it without an object when one is needed: *"The sign keeps away." vs "The sign keeps people away."

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The strong smell of ammonia was enough to most animals.

Multiple Choice

In which sentence is 'keep away' used CORRECTLY?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes. You can say 'keep the dog away' or 'keep away the dog', though the former (pronoun object order) is much more common and natural.
: 'Keep away' is general distance. 'Keep off' means not to step or place something on a surface (e.g., 'keep off the grass'). 'Keep out' means not to enter a specific enclosed or defined area (e.g., 'keep out of my room').
: Yes, in commands ('Keep away!') or when the object of avoidance is clear from context. However, to specify what is being avoided, 'from' is needed.
: Yes, especially in American English. It's a game where two or more players try to keep a ball (or object) away from a designated player in the middle.