walkaway
C1-C2 / LowInformal, occasionally formal in business contexts (for contractual clauses).
Definition
Meaning
Something easily achieved or won; a decisive or easy victory; also, a person who leaves, especially abruptly.
Can refer to an item of clothing (a 'walkaway' dress, a loose-fitting garment), or in financial/business contexts, a provision in a contract allowing withdrawal with a penalty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The two main meanings (easy victory vs. person who leaves) can cause ambiguity, resolved by context. As an attributive noun (e.g., 'walkaway victory'), it modifies another noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in American English, particularly in sports journalism for 'easy victory'. The clothing sense is archaic in both.
Connotations
Neutral-to-positive for 'easy win'; negative for 'person who leaves' (implies abandonment).
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation in both varieties. Most frequent in AmE sports and business reporting.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + walkaway: secure a walkaway, end in a walkaway[adj] + walkaway: contractual walkawayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a walkaway.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a 'walkaway clause' allowing a party to exit a deal under specified conditions.
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical/sociological texts describing social phenomena (e.g., 'walkaway husbands').
Everyday
Informal use for an easy success. 'The exam was a total walkaway.'
Technical
Not typical.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not standard as a single-word verb. Use 'walk away'.
- He decided to walk away from the negotiation.
American English
- Not standard as a single-word verb. Use 'walk away'.
- You can't just walk away from your responsibilities.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Used attributively: 'a walkaway victory for the home side'.
- The deal included a walkaway option.
American English
- Used attributively: 'a walkaway win in the playoffs'.
- They negotiated a 30-day walkaway period.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The game was not a walkaway; it was very close until the end.
- He is a walkaway; he left his family last year.
- After the first half, the match turned into a complete walkaway for the champions.
- The merger agreement contains a walkaway clause if regulatory approval is denied.
- The incumbent's lead in the polls suggests the election could be a walkaway.
- Analysts warned that the walkaway provision might be invoked if market conditions deteriorate further.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone so far ahead in a race they can just WALK AWAY from the finish line and still win easily.
Conceptual Metaphor
WINNING IS TRAVELLING (an easy win is a path you can walk away from).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите буквально как 'уходи пешком'. В значении 'лёгкая победа' — 'разгром', 'лёгкая победа'. Для 'человек, который уходит' — 'тот, кто ушёл/бросил'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He walkawayed from the deal' – incorrect; correct: 'He walked away').
- Confusing 'walkaway' (noun) with phrasal verb 'walk away'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'walkaway' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'walkaway' is a noun (or used attributively as an adjective). The verb form is the phrasal verb 'walk away' (two words).
They are very similar synonyms. 'Runaway' might imply speed and an early lead, while 'walkaway' emphasizes the ease and lack of effort required at the end.
Yes, informally it can mean a person who leaves a situation, relationship, or obligation, often abruptly or irresponsibly (e.g., 'a walkaway father').
It is now historical/archaic. It referred to a woman's loose-fitting garment, easy to put on or take off. You will unlikely encounter it in modern texts.