keep away
The phrase 'keep away' is often used to indicate maintaining a distance or preventing approach, commonly for safety or precautionary reasons.
Definition
A2General
(common)To maintain a distance from something or someone, often for safety.
Example
- Please keep away from the edge of the cliff.
- Keep away from the fire to avoid getting burned.
A2General
(common)To prevent someone or something from approaching or entering a particular area.
Example
- The guard dogs keep intruders away from the property.
- Signs were posted to keep people away from the construction site.
B1Games
(informal)A game where players try to keep an object from others.
Example
- The children played keep away with the ball in the park.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "keep away":
keep away fromkeep outkeep backdraw awaymove awaystay outback awaypush awayturn awaykeep fromkeep out ofward offget awaygo awaykeep at arm's lengthmake awaybat awaywhere awayfend offpull awayshut awayscare offdrive awaywalk away fromrun awaystay backwave awayhide awayback offout of the wayturn asidestand backtake awaywalk awaystand offfight offcome awaybreak awaywork awayout of someone's waywhile awaybear offfar awaystep asidestand asideclear awayhide behindhead offgoing awaywatch outat a distancewave offaway from homeclear offout of reach