shoo off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To cause someone or something to leave or go away by saying "shoo!" or by making a similar gesture or sound intended to scare or drive away.
Usage
- The verb "shoo off" is used to describe the act of chasing away, typically animals, birds, or sometimes people, in a dismissive but not violently aggressive manner. It implies using a word, sound, or waving motion to encourage departure.
- It is often used in informal contexts.
Examples
- Verb:
- I had to shoo off the cats that were digging in my garden.
- The waiter tried to shoo off the flies from the outdoor table.
- She shooed off the curious children who were crowding around the exhibit.
Advanced Usage
- "to be shooed off" (passive voice): To be made to leave in this manner.
- The pigeons were shooed off the statue by the park keeper.
Variants and Related Words
- Shoo (verb): The base form, meaning to drive away by or as if by crying "shoo".
- She shooed the dog out of the kitchen.
Synonyms
- Chase away: To force to flee.
- Drive away: To cause to leave a place.
- Scare off: To frighten something so it goes away.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Shoo away: A direct synonym with identical meaning and usage.
- Can you shoo away those birds from the fruit trees?
Related Idioms
Verb
- drive away by crying `shoo!'