get away

3 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 do something wrong without being caught or punished B1
  2. 2 escape from a person, place, or situation B1
  3. 3 go somewhere for a holiday or short break B1
1 get away with sth

do something wrong without being caught or punished

B1

What does "get away" mean in this sense?

To 'get away with' something means you did something wrong — broke a rule, cheated, lied — but you were not caught or punished for it. The focus is on escaping the consequences that should normally follow. For example, if a student copies another person's work and the teacher never finds out, the student got away with cheating. There is often a sense of unfairness in the phrase — the speaker usually feels the person should have faced consequences but didn't. The phrase can describe small everyday rule-breaking or more serious wrongdoing, and it always implies a moral judgement that something wrong was done.

Examples

How to use it

get away with + noun

The most common pattern — a noun naming the wrongdoing follows the full three-part verb.

The manager got away with fraud for years before anyone noticed.

get away with + gerund (-ing)

When the wrongdoing is expressed as an action, use a gerund — never an infinitive — after 'with'.

She got away with lying to her boss because he trusted her completely.

get away with + it / them

When the wrongdoing is already understood from context, 'it' or 'them' is used as a natural short form.

He broke the rules again, and somehow he got away with it.

modal + get away with + noun/gerund

Modal verbs like 'can', 'could', 'won't', and 'wouldn't' are very common with this phrasal verb, especially to say whether someone is likely to escape consequences.

You can't get away with cutting corners on a project this important.

get away with murder

This fixed idiom means someone can do absolutely anything without facing consequences — it is never used literally.

The star player gets away with murder — the coach never criticises him no matter what he does.

Common Collocations

get away with itget away with cheatingget away with lyingget away with murderget away with breaking the rulesget away with anything

Common Mistakes

Using an infinitive instead of a gerund

After 'with', you must use a gerund (-ing form) or a noun, never an infinitive with 'to'. This is one of the most common errors learners make with this phrasal verb.

✗ He got away with to cheat on the exam.
✓ He got away with cheating on the exam.
Confusing 'get away with' and 'get out of'

'Get out of' means avoiding a task or duty you simply don't want to do — it doesn't suggest wrongdoing. 'Get away with' means escaping punishment for something you should not have done. They are not interchangeable.

✗ She got away with doing her homework by saying she felt ill.
✓ She got out of doing her homework by saying she felt ill.
Confusing 'get away with' and 'get away'

'Get away' (two parts) means to physically escape from a place or person. 'Get away with' (three parts) means to escape consequences for a wrongdoing. Dropping 'with' completely changes the meaning.

✗ The thief got away with from the police.
✓ The thief got away from the police. / The thief got away with the theft.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. 'Get away with murder' is a very common idiom meaning someone can do anything without consequences — it is not literal.

2 get away

escape from a person, place, or situation

B1

Sense 2: What does "get away" mean?

To get away means to successfully escape from someone or something — a person chasing you, a dangerous place, or a difficult situation. The focus is on putting distance between yourself and the source of danger or threat, and often on the fact that the escape was successful. You might get away from the police, from a fire, or from someone following you. It's a neutral phrase that works equally well in news stories, fiction, and everyday conversation. Common adverbials like 'just in time', 'scot-free', or 'undetected' often appear alongside it to describe how the escape happened.

Examples

How to use it

get away (no object)

The most common pattern — used alone to say that someone escaped, often with a time or manner adverb nearby.

The robber got away before anyone could stop him.

get away from + person/place/situation

Use 'from' to name what someone is escaping from.

The dog managed to get away from its lead and ran into the park.

manage to / try to + get away

Often combined with verbs like 'manage to', 'try to', or 'help someone' to show effort or difficulty in escaping.

They tried to get away, but the security guards blocked the exit.

get away + manner/result adverbial

Adverbials describing how or with what result someone escaped are very common with this verb.

Somehow, the suspect got away undetected in the middle of the night.

let + person + get away

Use this structure when someone allows or fails to prevent another person from escaping.

The guard turned away for a moment and let the prisoner get away.

Common Collocations

get away from the policemanage to get awayget away scot-freeget away in timelet someone get awayget away from the scene

Common Mistakes

Adding 'with' by mistake

'Get away' (escape) and 'get away with' (avoid punishment) are two different phrasal verbs. Adding 'with' completely changes the meaning — 'He got away' means he escaped, but 'He got away with it' means he wasn't punished for something wrong.

✗ The thief got away with before the police arrived.
✓ The thief got away before the police arrived.
Treating it as transitive

'Get away' in this sense is intransitive — it doesn't take a direct object. If you want to name what someone is escaping from, you must use 'from'.

✗ She got away the dangerous situation.
✓ She got away from the dangerous situation.
Confusing the escape sense with the holiday sense

The same words 'get away' can also mean to go on a short holiday or break. Context makes the difference clear — if there's no threat or pursuit involved, it's likely the holiday sense, not the escape sense covered here.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. Be aware that in British English, 'Get away!' on its own can also mean 'You're joking!' — a very different meaning that depends entirely on context.

3 get away

go somewhere for a holiday or short break

B1

Sense 3: What does "get away" mean?

Getting away means leaving your normal life behind for a holiday or short break, usually by travelling somewhere different. It suggests more than just going on a trip — there's often a feeling of relief, like you're escaping stress, a busy routine, or everyday pressures. For example, someone who has been working very hard might say 'I really need to get away' to express that they feel tired and need rest. You can get away for just a weekend, for a few days, or for a longer holiday. The phrase 'get away from it all' is a very common expression that makes this idea of escaping stress even more explicit.

Examples

How to use it

get away + for + time period

Use this to say how long the break or holiday will last.

We really need to get away for at least a week.

modal/catenative verb + get away

This phrasal verb very often follows verbs like 'need to', 'manage to', 'hope to', or 'be able to', because getting away is something people plan or wish for.

She finally managed to get away after months of non-stop work.

get away + somewhere + adjective/location

Use this pattern to mention the kind of place or destination you're escaping to.

I'd love to get away somewhere warm this winter.

get away from it all

This fixed phrase is used to emphasise that someone wants to completely escape stress and daily routine.

After such a difficult few months, they just wanted to get away from it all.

get away + in/at + time expression

Use this to say when you are planning or hoping to take the break.

Are you planning to get away in August?

Common Collocations

get away for the weekendget away for a few daysneed to get awaymanage to get awayget away from it allhoping to get away

Common Mistakes

Adding a direct object

In this sense, 'get away' is always intransitive — it never takes a direct object. You cannot 'get away something' or 'get away the trip'.

✗ We got away a holiday last summer.
✓ We got away last summer.
Confusing with 'go away'

'Go away' and 'get away' can both refer to taking a holiday, but 'get away' suggests escaping stress or routine more strongly. If you just mean someone travelled, 'go away' is fine — but if you want to emphasise the need for a break, use 'get away'.

Confusing the holiday sense with the escape sense

'Get away' can also mean to escape or flee (as in 'the thief got away'), so make sure your sentence includes a time phrase or destination to signal the holiday meaning clearly.

✗ I need to get away from the situation.
✓ I need to get away for a few days somewhere quiet.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It often suggests escaping stress or routine, not just travelling — so 'we really need to get away' implies the speaker feels tired or overwhelmed, not just interested in tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'get away with' without any object, like 'he always gets away with'?

Not really — the verb sounds incomplete without an object after 'with'. The most natural short form is to use 'it' as the object: 'he always gets away with it.' If the wrongdoing is already clear from context, 'it' acts as a placeholder so the sentence feels complete.

Does 'get away with murder' mean someone actually killed someone?

No — this is a fixed idiom and is never used literally in this sense. It means someone can do absolutely anything, no matter how bad, without facing any consequences. For example: 'The boss lets him get away with murder — he arrives late every day and nobody says a word.'

Can 'get away with' be used in the passive, like 'it was got away with'?

No — this phrasal verb is not used in the passive. The sentence structure always puts the person escaping punishment as the subject. Passive forms like 'it was got away with' are unnatural and sound wrong to native speakers.

What kinds of things can follow 'get away with'?

Typically, any wrongdoing, dishonest act, or rule-breaking behaviour can follow 'get away with' — for example cheating, lying, breaking the rules, making mistakes, or bad behaviour. You can use a noun or a gerund (-ing form). The key idea is that the thing you 'got away with' should be something you should not have done.

Is 'get away with' only used in spoken English, or can I write it too?

You can use it in both spoken and written English — it is not restricted to conversation. It appears in journalism, fiction, and everyday writing. It has a slightly informal feel in very formal writing, but in most situations it is completely natural.

Can 'get away' be used in the passive, like 'he was got away'?

No — 'get away' cannot be used in the passive. Because it has no object, there is nothing to make the subject of a passive sentence. You can only use it in active sentences: 'She got away', not 'She was got away'.

Does 'get away' always involve a physical escape, like running?

Not necessarily. While it often describes physically leaving a dangerous place, it can also describe escaping a difficult or uncomfortable situation more generally — for example, getting away from an awkward conversation. What matters is that there's some kind of threat or pressure you're moving away from.

I've heard British people say 'Get away!' as a reaction to news. What does that mean?

That's a completely different use! In British English, 'Get away!' said as an exclamation means 'Really?' or 'You're joking!' — it expresses surprise or disbelief. It has nothing to do with escaping. Context makes it easy to tell the two apart.

What's the difference between 'get away' and 'run away'?

'Run away' specifically suggests fleeing on foot and puts the focus on the act of running. 'Get away' focuses on the result — successfully putting distance between yourself and the danger — and doesn't specify how you escaped. You could get away by car, on foot, or through a window.

Can I use 'get away' to describe an animal escaping, or only people?

You can absolutely use it for animals. It's very natural to say things like 'The cat got away through the back fence' or 'The bird got away before we could catch it.' Any living creature that escapes from something can be the subject.

Does 'get away' always mean to escape danger?

No — 'get away' has more than one meaning. In this sense, it simply means to go somewhere for a holiday or rest. The escape meaning (like fleeing from someone) is a different sense. You can usually tell the difference from context: if there's a time phrase like 'for the weekend' or a destination, it's about taking a break.

Can I say 'I get away right now'?

No, that sounds unnatural. For something happening at this moment, you would normally say 'I'm getting away' using the present continuous. The present simple ('I get away') is used for habits or general facts, not current actions.

What's the difference between 'get away' and 'get away from it all'?

'Get away from it all' is a fixed phrase that means the same thing but with extra emphasis on escaping stress, routine, and daily problems. 'Get away' on its own already suggests this idea, but 'from it all' makes it very clear. Both are common and natural.

What kinds of words often appear before 'get away'?

Verbs like 'need to', 'want to', 'manage to', 'hope to', and 'be able to' very commonly appear before 'get away'. This is because people usually talk about needing, planning, or trying to take a break, rather than just stating it as a simple fact.

Is 'get away' only used in spoken English?

No, it works in both spoken and written English. You'll hear it in everyday conversation, but you'll also see it in emails, travel articles, and lifestyle writing. It's a neutral phrasal verb, so it suits most everyday situations.

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