go away

Meaning

This common phrase means to leave a person or place, or to disappear completely (like a headache or a bad situation). It is also frequently used to talk about going on a short trip or holiday.

Examples

• I took some medicine, but my headache won't go away.

  I took some medicine, but my headache won't go away.

• We are planning to go away for the weekend to the beach.

  We are planning to go away for the weekend to the beach.

• Please go away and leave me alone; I need to concentrate.

  Please go away and leave me alone; I need to concentrate.

• If you ignore the problem, it won't just go away.

  If you ignore the problem, it won't just go away.

• The rain finally went away, and the sun came out.

  The rain finally went away, and the sun came out.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to go away my country next year.

  ✓ I want to go away next year. / I want to leave my country next year.

  'Go away' is an intransitive phrasal verb. It cannot take a direct object like 'my country'. Use 'leave' instead if you want to name the place.

• ✗ My toothache went out after I took aspirin.

  ✓ My toothache went away after I took aspirin.

  'Went out' is used for lights, fires, or going to social events. To say pain disappeared, use 'went away'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Are you planning to ___ for the summer holidays?

  💡 This means to travel or take a trip somewhere else.

  Show answer

  go away

• I hope this cold will ___ before my flight tomorrow.

  💡 This means to disappear or clear up.

  Show answer

  go away