drive away: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘drive away’ mean?
The idiom "drive away" means to force someone or something to leave a place or to cause something to disappear or lessen in value or importance.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "let drive" means to give someone free rein to do something or to allow them to act with full force or intensity.
The idiom "leave behind" means to forget or not bring something with you when you go somewhere. It can also mean to abandon or neglect someone or something.
The idiom "leave behind" is a well-known phrase in English that has various meanings and uses. Here is a comprehensive analysis of the idiom for a US audience.
The idiom "leave at the door" means to put aside or forget about something, usually negative or burdensome, and not let it affect the current situation or environment.
The idiom "kick out" means to forcefully make someone leave or expel them from a place or a group, often due to misbehavior or non-compliance with rules.
In popular culture, the idiom "has left the building" is used to indicate that someone has departed or left a place, often in a dramatic or significant manner.
The idiom "go to" is an informal way of expressing annoyance or frustration towards someone or something. It implies a desire for the person or thing to leave or disappear. It can also be used to indicate a sudden, intense reaction or a strong feeling.
An idiom used to describe someone leaving or departing. It implies a physical or metaphorical departure from a place or situation.
Going away is an idiom in the English language used to describe a person's departure or leaving from a particular place. It can refer to leaving one's home, workplace, or any other location. This idiom is often used in casual conversations and can be found in various contexts.
The idiom "go by the wayside" means to be forgotten or abandoned, usually due to a lack of attention or interest.
The idiom "get rid of" means to dispose of something or eliminate something or someone.
The idiom "get rid of" is a common expression in American English with a straightforward and universally understood meaning. It is used figuratively to describe eliminating or disposing of something or someone undesirable. The idiom is widely used in various contexts and has become deeply entrenched in the English language.
The idiom "get lost" means to tell someone to go away or leave, often used in a rude or dismissive manner. It is a way of expressing annoyance or frustration with someone's presence.
Unveiling the Enigma
The idiom "drive away" has several meanings and uses. One common meaning of this idiom is to make someone or something leave a place by driving a vehicle. For example, if someone says, "I will drive away the intruders," they mean they will use their vehicle to make the intruders leave.
Another meaning of this idiom is to cause someone to lose interest or become discouraged. When used this way, "drive away" suggests that something or someone is demotivating or making a person less enthusiastic. For instance, if someone says, "Constant criticism can drive away creativity," they mean that too much criticism can dampen a person's creative ability.
This idiom can also imply leaving quickly or suddenly in a vehicle. It signifies a rapid departure or escape. For example, if someone says, "The bank robbers drove away in a stolen car," they are describing how the robbers quickly fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.
Furthermore, "drive away" can metaphorically describe the act of pushing away or avoiding certain emotions or thoughts. It implies a deliberate effort to distance oneself mentally or emotionally from a particular situation. For instance, if someone says, "She drove away her feelings of guilt," they mean the person consciously tried to suppress or ignore their feelings of guilt.
This idiom can also convey the idea of repelling or causing someone to stay away. It signifies a strong negative effect that discourages interaction or proximity. For example, if someone says, "His rude behavior drives away potential friends," they mean the person's rude manners make others unwilling to befriend him.
The related idiom "drive off" shares a similar meaning with "drive away". It also refers to causing someone or something to go away by driving a vehicle. For example, if a person says, "I will drive off the stray dogs," they mean they will make the dogs leave by driving their vehicle towards them.
Additionally, the related idiom "drive out" has a similar meaning as well. It implies making someone or something leave a place by driving a vehicle. For instance, if a person says, "I will drive out the noisy neighbors," they mean they will use their vehicle to make the neighbors leave.
Furthermore, the related idiom "chase off" is synonymous with "drive away". It means making someone or something go away by chasing them. For example, if a person says, "I will chase off the seagulls," they mean they will make the seagulls leave by chasing them away.
The idiom "drive away" encompasses a range of meanings and uses. It can refer to physically causing someone or something to leave a place, losing interest or motivation, leaving quickly, avoiding emotions or thoughts, repelling others, driving off, driving out, and chasing off. This versatile idiom captures various aspects of departure, detachment, and avoidance. While each usage conveys a distinct notion, they all share the underlying theme of moving away or pushing away, whether physically or metaphorically. It serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances that idiomatic expressions bring to the English language.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "drive away" can be used in a sentence:
- I tried to drive away as quickly as possible after dropping her off at the airport.
- The loud noise from the construction site drove away all the birds in the vicinity.
- The company's poor customer service is driving potential clients away.
More "Verb" idioms
