| A |
Compare away and back:
away = away from home
- We're going away on holiday today.
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back = back home
- We'll be back in three weeks.
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away = away from a place, a person etc.
- The woman got into her car, started the engine and drove away.
- I tried to take a picture of the bird, but it flew away.
- I dropped the ticket and it blew away in the wind.
- The police searched the house and took away a computer.
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back = back to a place, a person etc.
- A: I'm going out now.
B: What time will you be back?
- After eating at a restaurant, we walked back to our hotel.
- I've still got Jane's keys. I forgot to give them back to her.
- When you've finished with that book, can you put it back on the shelf?
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| In the same way you can say: walk away, run away, look away etc. |
In the same way you can say: go back, come back, get back, take something back etc. |
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| B |
Other verbs + away
get away = escape, leave with difficulty
- We tried to catch the thief, but she managed to get away.
get away with something = do something wrong without being caught
- I parked in a no-parking zone, but I got away with it. I didn't have to pay a fine.
keep away (from ... ) = don't go near
- Keep away from the edge of the pool. You might fall in.
give something away = give it to somebody else because you don't want it any more
- 'Did you sell your old computer?' 'No, I gave it away.'
put something away = put it in the place where it is kept, usually out of sight
- When the children had finished playing with their toys, they put them away.
throw something away = put it in the rubbish
- I kept the letter, but I threw away the envelope.
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| C |
Other verbs + back
wave back / smile back / shout back / write back / hit somebody back
- I waved to her and she waved back.
call/phone/ring (somebody) back = return a phone call
- I can't talk to you now. I'll call you back in ten minutes.
get back to somebody = reply to them by phone etc.
- I sent him an email, but he never got back to me.
look back (on something) = think about what happened in the past
- My first job was in a travel agency. I didn't like it very much at the time but, looking back on it, I learnt a lot and it was a very useful experience.
pay back money, pay somebody back
- If you borrow money, you have to pay it back.
- Thanks for lending me the money. I'll pay you back next week.
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