shoo
/ʃu:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To drive or scare away (a person, animal, or thing) by making a "shoo" sound or a similar gesture of dismissal.
Usage
The verb "shoo" is used to describe the action of making something go away, typically by saying "shoo!" or by waving one's hands. It is most commonly used with animals or pests, but can also be used informally with people, often in a lighthearted or impatient manner. It is a transitive verb and is often followed by an adverb like "away" or "off."
Examples
- Verb:
- She tried to shoo the flies away from the picnic table.
- The librarian shooed the noisy children out of the quiet section.
- He shooed the cat off the kitchen counter.
Advanced Usage
- "to shoo someone/something in/into": to usher or guide someone/something into a place quickly, often with a gesture.
- The teacher shooed the students into the classroom before the bell rang.
- "to shoo someone/something out/out of": to make someone/something leave a place.
- We had to shoo the birds out of the garage.
Variants and Related Words
- Shoo-in (noun): An informal term for a person or thing that is certain to win or succeed.
- She is a shoo-in for the promotion. (Note: This is a compound word and a different part of speech.)
Synonyms
- Chase away/off: To force to leave by pursuing.
- Drive away/off: To cause to retreat or leave.
- Scare off: To frighten something so it goes away.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Shoo away: To drive something off by saying "shoo" or making a gesture. (This is the most common construction with "shoo").
- Please shoo away the pigeons from the balcony.
- Shoo off: Synonymous with "shoo away."
- Can you shoo off the dog? It's begging for food.
Related Idioms
- "Shoo-fly": This is primarily the name of a traditional pie or a folk song. As an exclamation ("Shoo, fly!"), it is a direct command to an insect to go away, reinforcing the core meaning of the verb "shoo."
- "Shoo, fly, don't bother me!" (from the popular song).
Verb
- drive away by crying `shoo!'