drag away
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away
Meanings
Force someone to leave a place reluctantly
Why “away”? A person, object, look, or choice becomes more distant from its starting point.
“I had to drag him away from the screen.”
“Her friends had to drag her away from the party.”
Don't confuse with
Drag away means force someone to leave a place reluctantly. Drag on means continue for too long in a tedious way.
Test yourself
“I had to drag him away from the screen.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
drag on
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue for too long in a tedious way
back away
Same away pattern: leaving
Move away or distance yourself, often from fear or caution
break away
Same away pattern: leaving
Escape from someone holding you; Leave a group to form a separate one; Pull ahead of others in a race
call away
Same away pattern: leaving
Be required to leave because of an urgent matter
chase away
Same away pattern: leaving
Force someone or something to leave by chasing
come away
Same away pattern: leaving
Leave a place with a particular feeling or impression
draw away
Same away pattern: leaving
Move ahead of competitors by extending the lead
drive away
Same away pattern: leaving
Leave by car; Force someone to leave or stay away
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