hide-away

A family enjoys a peaceful weekend at their cozy hide-away in the woods.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A place of retreat or concealment: "hide-away" refers to a secluded location where someone can escape from others or from everyday life, often used for privacy or safety.
   • A secret or hidden spot: It can also denote any small, tucked-away space used for hiding or relaxing.

2. Verb (rare, informal):

   • To retreat or conceal oneself: Used less commonly as a verb, meaning to go to a hide-away or to hide away.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • They built a small hide-away in the mountains to escape the city. (A secluded retreat for relaxation.)
  • The children found a hide-away in the attic where they could play secretly. (A hidden spot for privacy.)

• Verb:

  • After the scandal, he decided to hide-away in a remote cabin. (He retreated to a secluded place.)

Advanced Usage

• "a cozy hide-away": a comfortable, small, and secluded retreat.

  • The cottage by the lake was their cozy hide-away for weekends. (A pleasant, private place.)

• "a criminal's hide-away": a place where someone evading the law stays hidden.

  • The police raided the hide-away where the fugitive was staying. (A secret location for concealment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hideaway (n): the standard spelling variant of "hide-away" (often written as one word).

  • The island resort is a perfect hideaway for honeymooners. (A secluded retreat.)

• Hideout (n): a place of hiding, especially for criminals or for secret activities.

  • The gang used an old warehouse as their hideout. (A secret location for concealment.)

Synonyms

• Retreat: a place of seclusion or safety.
  • The cabin served as a quiet retreat from the noise of the city. (A secluded place.)
• Sanctuary: a place of refuge or safety.
  • The garden felt like a sanctuary from the busy world. (A peaceful hideaway.)
• Refuge: a shelter or protection from danger or trouble.
  • The cave provided refuge during the storm. (A safe hiding place.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Hide away (phrasal verb): to conceal oneself or something in a secret place.
  • She likes to hide away in her room when she needs to study. (To retreat privately.)
  • He hid away the money in a safe. (To conceal something securely.)

Related Idioms

• Go into hiding: to conceal oneself from others, typically to avoid danger or detection.

  • After the threat, the witness went into hiding in a safe hide-away. (To seek refuge secretly.)

• A hole in the wall: a small, inconspicuous place, often used to describe a hide-away.

  • That little café is a real hole in the wall, a perfect hide-away for reading. (A small, hidden spot.)