run away

Meaning

This expression means to escape from a place, person, or situation, often by running. It can refer to literally fleeing from danger, a child leaving home due to unhappiness, or figuratively avoiding a difficult problem instead of dealing with it.

Examples

• The cat will run away if you make a loud noise.

  The cat will run away if you make a loud noise.

• He tried to run away from his problems instead of solving them.

  He tried to run away from his problems instead of solving them.

• When the alarm went off, the thieves ran away.

  When the alarm went off, the thieves ran away.

• She dreamed of running away to join the circus when she was a child.

  She dreamed of running away to join the circus when she was a child.

• Don't run away! I just want to ask you a quick question.

  Don't run away! I just want to ask you a quick question.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He ran away of his house.

  ✓ He ran away from his house.

  Use the preposition 'from' to show the starting point or source of escape, not 'of'.

• ✗ The dog did a run away.

  ✓ The dog ran away.

  'Run away' is a verb phrase. If you want a noun, the single compound word 'runaway' is used, but the verb form 'ran away' is much more common.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The dog got scared by the fireworks and tried to ___.

  💡 escape or flee

  Show answer

  run away

• You can't just ___ from your responsibilities.

  💡 avoid dealing with something

  Show answer

  run away