a weekend away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a weekend away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a short trip or vacation taken over the weekend, typically for leisure or relaxation. Example: "We decided to take a weekend away to the beach to unwind and recharge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You guys should take a weekend away.

The New Yorker

We go for a weekend away.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you take a weekend away, then fucking tell me".

The New Yorker

A weekend away is supposed to be relaxing.

The New York Times

The mods plan a weekend away in Brighton.

The Guardian - Film

When he wants a weekend away, he can fly to Florida to golf with Tiger Woods.

The New York Times

We'll give them something like a weekend away and massages up in the wine country.

The New York Times

Clare Valley Motel is an affordable base for a weekend away among the vines.

The Guardian - Travel

There's nothing wrong with wanting the biggest, grandest experience you can have during a weekend away in the mountains.

The New York Times

She hasn't told our supervisor, but she wants to use the credit for a weekend away with her husband.

The New York Times - Magazine

VLC is handy for catching up on movies during a weekend away or perhaps a long flight.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning a trip, consider using "a weekend away" to describe short, leisure-focused travels. This emphasizes the relaxed and temporary nature of the trip.

Common error

Avoid using "a weekend away" in very formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise terms like "short excursion" or "brief respite" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a weekend away" is as a noun phrase, often functioning as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a short period of time dedicated to travel or leisure, as shown in Ludwig examples such as "take a weekend away" or "plan a weekend away".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Travel

15%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a weekend away" is a very common noun phrase referring to a short, leisure-focused trip, typically for relaxation or escape. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in many contexts. While generally neutral, it's best to avoid it in highly formal writing. Alternatives like "a weekend getaway" or "a short break" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Understanding its usage and context helps in crafting clear and appropriate sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a weekend getaway

A very close synonym, emphasizing escape and relaxation.

a weekend excursion

Combines the weekend aspect with the idea of a journey.

a short break

Focuses on the brevity of the trip, similar to a weekend.

a mini-vacation

Highlights the vacation aspect, though shorter than a typical vacation.

a two-day trip

Specifies the duration of the trip.

a quick trip

Emphasizes the speed and brevity of the travel.

a short excursion

Highlights a brief journey or outing for pleasure.

a brief respite

Focuses on the break from routine and relaxation aspect.

a city break

Specifically refers to a short trip to a city.

a change of scenery

Emphasizes the benefit of a new environment.

FAQs

What's the best way to use "a weekend away" in a sentence?

You can use "a weekend away" to describe a short trip taken for leisure, as in "We decided to take "a weekend away" to the mountains".

What can I say instead of "a weekend away"?

You can use alternatives like "a weekend getaway", "a short break", or "a quick trip", depending on the context.

Is "weekend away" or "a weekend away" more correct?

Both are acceptable, but ""a weekend away"" is generally more common and grammatically standard when referring to a single instance of such a trip. "Weekend away" can be used in a more general sense.

What's the difference between "a weekend away" and "a vacation"?

"A weekend away" is specifically a short trip lasting for the weekend, while "a vacation" typically refers to a longer period of time taken off from work or school.