wash away
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away
Meanings
Carry off by water
Why “away”? A broom sweeps aside. Unwanted items are pushed out of the scene.
“Heavy rain washed away the topsoil.”
“The river washed away part of the path.”
Don't confuse with
Wash away means carry off by water. Wash down means help swallow food by drinking liquid.
Test yourself
“Heavy rain washed away the topsoil.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
wash down
A contrast learners often mix up
Help swallow food by drinking liquid
blow away
Same away pattern: removal
Be carried away by the wind; Greatly impress someone
brush away
Same away pattern: removal
Push aside dismissively
carry away
Same away pattern: removal
Become so excited or absorbed that you lose self-control
cart away
Same away pattern: removal
Take something or someone away in a vehicle, often without ceremony
clear away
Same away pattern: removal
Remove items to tidy a space
do away
Same away pattern: removal
Get rid of something or abolish it; Murder someone (informal)
give away
Same away pattern: removal
Give something free of charge to someone; Reveal a secret, often unintentionally; Formally hand a bride to the groom at a wedding
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