send away

tell someone to leave

B1

What does "send sb away" mean?

To send someone away means to tell them to leave, or to make them go somewhere else — often far away or for a long time. You might send away an unwanted visitor at the door, or a manager might send away a customer they cannot help. The phrasal verb also describes situations where someone is dispatched to a distant place, such as a child being sent away to boarding school or a soldier being sent away to serve abroad. This second use often carries a feeling of separation or loss. The phrase is natural in both everyday conversation and more formal or narrative writing.

Examples

How to use it

send + object + away

The most common structure, used when dismissing or dispatching a specific person.

The receptionist sent the visitor away because the director was unavailable.

send + pronoun + away

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'send' and 'away' — never after 'away'.

The salesman knocked three times, but we sent him away.

be sent away

The passive form is natural, especially when the focus is on the person who is dismissed or sent somewhere distant.

She was sent away without any explanation, which made her feel frustrated.

be sent away to + place

Use this pattern when someone is dispatched to a specific distant place, often for a prolonged period.

At the age of nine, he was sent away to live with relatives in the countryside.

send away + long noun phrase

When the object is a longer noun phrase, it can follow 'away' directly rather than splitting the verb.

The head teacher decided to send away every student who had been involved in the incident.

Common Collocations

send someone away empty-handedsent away to boarding schoolsend away a visitorsent away without an answersend the children awaysent away in disgrace

Common Mistakes

Pronoun after 'away'

With pronoun objects, the pronoun must go between 'send' and 'away'. Placing it after 'away' is ungrammatical.

✗ They sent away her without listening to her complaint.
✓ They sent her away without listening to her complaint.
Confusing 'send away' with 'send away for'

'Send away for' is a completely different phrasal verb meaning to order something by post. 'Send away' (without 'for') is only used with people, not products or goods.

✗ She sent away a new catalogue from the company.
✓ She sent away for a new catalogue from the company. / She sent the salesman away.
Using the present continuous

'Send away' describes a single decisive action, not an ongoing process, so the present continuous sounds unnatural in most contexts.

✗ I am sending away the customers all morning.
✓ I have been sending customers away all morning. / I sent several customers away this morning.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both everyday conversation and more formal or literary writing. When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'send' and 'away': say 'send them away', never 'send away them'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'send away' always mean to dismiss someone, or can it mean something else?

It has two closely related meanings. One is dismissing someone — telling them to leave, like sending away a salesman at the door. The other is dispatching someone to a distant place for a long time, like being sent away to boarding school. Both involve a person going away, but the second sense often carries a stronger feeling of separation.

Can I use 'send away' in the passive?

Yes, the passive works very naturally with this phrasal verb. It is especially common when the focus is on the person who is dismissed or sent somewhere: 'He was sent away without a second chance.' This form is useful in storytelling and narratives.

What kinds of people or situations is 'send away' used with?

It is commonly used with visitors, salespeople, customers, or anyone who turns up but is told to leave. It is also used when someone — often a child — is sent to live or study somewhere far away for a period of time, such as boarding school or a relative's home.

Is there a difference between 'send away' and 'send off'?

'Send off' focuses more on the act of dispatching someone and is also common in sports (when a player is ordered off the field). 'Send away' focuses more on dismissal or removal and is more natural in everyday social situations, such as turning a visitor away or dispatching someone to a distant location.

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