keep away from — avoid going near
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to not go close to someone or something, usually because it could be dangerous, unpleasant, or unwanted.
Say it like a native
Textbook It is advisable to maintain a safe distance from the substance.
Native Keep away from that stuff.
'Keep away from' is natural; 'maintain a safe distance from' is a warning label.
Pattern: keep away from + noun/pronoun
In use
- You should keep away from that dog; it can be aggressive.daily life
- If you want to stay healthy, it's important to keep away from junk food as much as possible.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Keep away of the dog.
✓ Keep away from the dog.
It's 'keep away FROM', not 'of'.
Common collocations
keep away from— from, stay, the edge, trouble
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'stay away', which can sound a bit stronger or more permanent.