FRIGHTEN AWAY Meaning and
Definition
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"Frighten away" is a phrasal verb that refers to the act of causing someone or something to become scared or fearful to a degree that they retreat or move away in order to escape the source of fear or danger. It involves instilling a sense of fear or intimidation in order to create a distance or separation between the subject and the person, animal, or object causing them distress.
To frighten away implies the deliberate use of strategies, such as sudden movements, loud noises, or threatening gestures, to startle or terrify someone or something. The intent is to prompt a flight response, leading the frightened individual or creature to seek safety or distance from the situation or entity that elicited fear.
This phrasal verb is commonly used to describe actions taken by individuals or animals to ward off potential threats or dangers. For instance, a hiker might clap their hands or yell loudly to frighten away a bear in the wilderness. Similarly, a wary cat might hiss or arch its back to frighten away a perceived aggressor.
"Frighten away" emphasizes the idea of causing someone or something to feel fear to an extent that it alters their behavior in terms of retreating, fleeing, or avoiding. It captures the notion of using fear as a mechanism for self-preservation and defense against perceived harm or danger.
Common Misspellings for FRIGHTEN AWAY
- drighten away
- crighten away
- vrighten away
- grighten away
- trighten away
- rrighten away
- feighten away
- fdighten away
- ffighten away
- ftighten away
- f5ighten away
- f4ighten away
- frughten away
- frjghten away
- frkghten away
- froghten away
- fr9ghten away
- fr8ghten away
- frifhten away
- frightern away
Etymology of FRIGHTEN AWAY
The etymology of the word "frighten away" can be understood by examining the origins of its components:
1. Frighten: The word "frighten" comes from the Middle English "frightenen", which originated from the Old English word "fyrhtan". This Old English term means "to frighten" or "to terrify". It is thought to have derived from the Proto-Germanic word "furhtijan", which means "to make afraid" or "to cause fear". The root of "frighten" can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European word "perk", meaning "to dodge" or "to flee".
2. Away: The word "away" is derived from the Old English word "onweg", which means "from this place" or "from here".
Idioms with the word FRIGHTEN AWAY
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frighten away
The idiom "frighten away" means to cause someone or something to leave or go away out of fear or intimidation.
Similar spelling words for FRIGHTEN AWAY
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