keep away

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to maintain a physical distance from a person, place, or object, or to prevent someone or something else from going near them. It is highly common in daily life for warning signs, safety instructions, or personal boundaries.

Examples

• You should keep away from the edge of the cliff; it's dangerous.

  You should keep away from the edge of the cliff; it's dangerous.

• The sign on the fence says, 'Danger! Keep away!'

  The sign on the fence says, 'Danger! Keep away!'

• I'm trying to keep away from sweet foods to improve my diet.

  I'm trying to keep away from sweet foods to improve my diet.

• Please keep the kids away from the hot stove.

  Please keep the kids away from the hot stove.

• He stayed home to keep his cold germs away from his colleagues.

  He stayed home to keep his cold germs away from his colleagues.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please keep away of the dog.

  ✓ Please keep away from the dog.

  Always use the preposition 'from' after 'keep away' when specifying what or whom to avoid.

• ✗ Keep away the children from the pool.

  ✓ Keep the children away from the pool.

  When 'keep away' has a direct object (like 'the children'), the object must go between 'keep' and 'away'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The doctor told him to ___ from dairy products for a week.

  💡 Avoid going near or consuming

  Show answer

  keep away

• There is a warning sign telling people to ___ from the construction site.

  💡 Stay at a distance

  Show answer

  keep away