keep away
Verb (transitive and intransitive) 1. To maintain a distance; to prevent someone or something from approaching or making contact. - This verb describes the action of causing a person, animal, or object to stay at a distance, or the action of staying at a distance oneself. It often implies a deliberate effort to avoid proximity for reasons of safety, health, or preference.
The verb "keep away" can be used with or without a direct object.
* When used transitively, it takes a direct object (the thing being kept at a distance) and is often followed by "from" to indicate what is being avoided.
* Structure: keep [someone/something] away (from [someone/something])
* When used intransitively, it does not take a direct object and means to stay at a distance.
* Structure: keep away (from [someone/something])
Transitive use:
- Please keep the dog away from the kitchen. (Please prevent the dog from entering the kitchen.)
- The sign is meant to keep people away from the construction site. (The sign is intended to prevent people from approaching the construction site.)
- She uses a cover to keep the dust away from her books. (She uses a cover to prevent dust from settling on her books.)
Intransitive use:
- The fence is electric, so keep away! (Stay at a distance because the fence is electric!)
- You should keep away from that area at night. (You should avoid that area at night.)
- Imperative Warning: Often used in commands or warnings on signs to denote danger or a prohibited area.
- Danger! High Voltage! Keep away!
- Figurative Use: Can be used in a non-physical sense to mean avoiding involvement with something harmful or undesirable.
- He's trying to keep away from bad influences. (He is trying to avoid contact with bad influences.)
- Keep-away (noun): A children's game where players try to maintain possession of a ball and prevent a designated player from getting it.
- The kids are playing keep-away in the yard.
- Keep back: Similar to "keep away," but often implies holding something in reserve or preventing advancement.
- The police asked the crowd to keep back.
- Keep off: Specifically means to not step on or touch something.
- Keep off the grass.
- Stay away: To remain at a distance. (Often used intransitively).
- Shun: To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject (stronger and more formal).
- Avoid: To keep away from or stop oneself from doing something.
- Keep away from: This is the standard construction when specifying what is being avoided.
- It's hard to keep away from sweets.
- Keep [someone/something] away: The core phrasal verb structure for the transitive meaning.
- A good immune system can keep illnesses away.
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prevent from coming close
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I tried to keep the child away from the pool
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