clear of bars

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear of bars" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is unobstructed or free from barriers, often in a literal or metaphorical sense. Example: "The path was clear of bars, allowing the children to run freely in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Imported acts continue to thrive, but local and regional comedy has entered the cafe and shisha circuit, reaching local populations that would normally steer clear of bars.

The New York Times

• Swingers star Vince Vaughn has agreed to steer clear of bars in an American city, following a bar-room brawl that ended with the stabbing of actor Steve Buscemi.

The Guardian - Film

They stay clear of bars – "We're not nearly cool enough and staff would give us withering looks if we went in" – and try to get home on time for the babysitter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As the young and un-sexed Trump staffers flee the normal avenues of dating, deleting their dating apps and steering clear of bars out of fear that mean liberals will heckle them or make them to listen to the audio of crying migrant children, they're forced to look to each other for companionship.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In any event Jordan hope the appeal against the disqualification of their driver Jarno Trulli from fourth place in last month's US grand prix at Indianapolis will lift them clear of BAR, with whom they share fifth place.

The Guardian - Sport

I know to steer clear of sushi bars in Chinese restaurants.

The New York Times - Food

Stay clear of dubious bars and noisy pubs with hard benches and drunk people swearing, or places with sexually explicit pictures hanging on the walls.

WikiHow

She was just soaring clear of the bar as Christine Ohuruogu entered the home straight in the women's 400m final.

Independent

But in Michigan, where the nuns are calling Catholics in suburban Detroit, many omit the title sister to steer clear of rules barring political activity by tax-exempt groups.

The New York Times

— alex kapranos (@alkapranos) 23 Jul 12 Top Russian officials have yet to respond to the criticism, and it is not clear, short of barring concerts, what they could do to stop it.

The New York Times

If you get tipsy easily, steer clear of a free bar, be cautious about how fast and how much you consume.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to remain "clear of bars", consider the context. It could refer to avoiding the negative influences associated with bars or simply staying away from the physical location.

Common error

Ensure the context is clearly established when using "clear of bars". Without sufficient context, it could be misinterpreted as referring to something other than the intended meaning of avoiding bars or their negative influences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear of bars" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that typically modifies a verb, noun, or clause to indicate avoidance or separation. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English, describing a state of being unobstructed. Examples in Ludwig show its use in contexts ranging from avoiding physical establishments to metaphorical dangers.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clear of bars" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate avoidance, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically correct, it's a less common expression, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Ludwig's analysis highlights its function in advising or describing avoidance, whether literally or metaphorically. To enhance clarity, consider context-specific alternatives like "away from bars" or "avoiding bars". Despite its relative infrequency, the phrase is understandable and contextually relevant when used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

away from bars

Indicates a position or direction that is not near bars, focusing on physical distance.

avoiding bars

Emphasizes the action of actively staying away from bars, highlighting intentional avoidance.

far from bars

Highlights a significant distance from bars, suggesting remoteness.

free from bars

Suggests a state of being without the presence or influence of bars.

unobstructed by bars

Focuses on the lack of physical blockage or impediment caused by bars.

keeping away from bars

Emphasizes the continuous action of staying away from bars.

staying away from bars

Focuses on a continuous state of not being near bars.

out of reach of bars

Indicates that bars are not accessible or within proximity.

beyond the vicinity of bars

Highlights being outside the immediate surrounding area of bars.

without interference from bars

Focuses on the absence of disruption or obstruction caused by bars.

FAQs

What does "clear of bars" mean?

The phrase "clear of bars" generally means to avoid bars, either physically or metaphorically. It can refer to steering clear of the negative influences or activities associated with bars.

How can I use "clear of bars" in a sentence?

You can use "clear of bars" to advise someone to avoid places like bars, for example: "To stay healthy, it's best to remain "clear of bars" and prioritize healthy habits."

What's a less literal alternative to "clear of bars"?

A less literal alternative would be to say "avoid negative influences". This captures the essence of steering clear of potentially harmful environments or situations, regardless of whether they're physically bars or not.

Is it more common to say "stay clear of bars" or "be clear of bars"?

"Stay clear of bars" is more common than "be clear of bars". "Stay clear of" emphasizes the action of continuously avoiding something, whereas "be clear of" suggests a state, which is less frequently used in this context.