Keep Away From – Meaning and Examples
If you have a broken machine or a dangerous animal, what do you tell people to do? When you instruct someone to maintain a distance or to completely avoid something, we use the phrasal verb keep away (from).
This phrase is essential for giving warnings, enforcing rules, and talking about personal avoidance. Let’s learn how to use keep away (from) correctly!
What Does “Keep Away (From)” Mean?
“Keep away (from)” means to maintain a distance from a physical object or location, or to avoid contact with a person, situation, or substance. It implies deliberate separation for safety or preference.
Think of a sign that says “Do Not Enter” or a friend telling you to avoid a bad movie. You need to keep away from the thing or place mentioned .
It is used both literally (physical distance) and figuratively (avoiding abstract things like trouble or bad habits).
When to Use It
Use this phrase in neutral or casual conversations when giving advice, warnings, or discussing boundaries:
- Safety: Warning children to stay clear of a dangerous area.
- Health/Habits: Advising someone to avoid unhealthy food or negative people.
- Boundaries: Explaining that you are avoiding a specific person or topic.
This is a neutral phrase, suitable for various settings where avoidance is necessary.
Example Sentences
- The doctor told him to keep away from sugar and fatty foods.
- Please keep away from the edge of the cliff; it’s too dangerous.
- I told the children to keep away from the wet paint on the fence.
- She decided to keep away from social media for a month to focus on her studies.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “I’m thinking of trying that new fast-food place.”
Jamie: “I wouldn’t! You should keep away from it; the reviews are terrible.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When you mention the object you are avoiding, you must include the preposition “from.” If the object is obvious, you can sometimes use “keep away” alone.
❌ Don’t say: “You must keep away the hot stove.” (Missing “from.”)
✅ Do say: “You must keep away from the hot stove.” (Correct use with “from.”)
✅ Do say: “The dog is sick. Keep away!” (Correct use when the object is clear.)
Practice Tip
Next time you are focused on a task, tell your friends or family: “I need to keep away from my phone for the next hour so I can finish this.”
Final Note
Wonderful! You can now use keep away (from) to give warnings and talk about avoidance in a natural way.
Keep using this phrase to talk about boundaries and distance!
