dive away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dive away" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be interpreted as a directive to leave or escape quickly, but it lacks standard usage and clarity. Example: "When the storm approached, we had to dive away from the beach to find shelter."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This particular German would climb above the British, make a diving attack at the rear-most aircraft and dive away if he did not score a decisive hit.

Wikipedia

At various points, the city sprawl seems to rush up and then dive away, leaving wide vistas of Midtown and the Hudson River.

The New York Times

The trip, with daily departures in August, costs £2,807 pp including flights, transport, accommodation and some meals with Sunvil Latin America (020 8758 4774) Dive away from the sun's rays on the Caribbean island of Curaçao.

The Guardian - Travel

Only a deep dive, away from the safety of the land, reveals its nature.

BBC

Who wants to type tweets onto a fridge LCD when a smartphone is just a pocket dive away?

TechCrunch

Only Krul will know what he was doing when he seemed to dive away from McCarthy's shot towards the centre of the goal, while a three-minute spell of madness from Gouffran and Coloccini ended the game as a contest, although Newcastle argued the red card was harsh.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

splitter diving away.

The New York Times - Sports

But against the Indians, it dived away from left-handed batters, northwest to southeast.

The New York Times - Sports

She dived away, then lay still as the gunman walked up and down a side aisle.

The Washington Post

Raising one flipper in a leisurely side-stroke it slips through the water until it's within paddle distance, then dives away.

The Guardian - Travel

San Francisco's Michael Tucker and Dodgers closer Eric Gagne were ejected in the eighth for nearly starting a brawl after Tucker dived away from a high pitch by Gagne.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character's action in a story, use "dive away" to convey a sense of urgency and a need for immediate escape, but consider that this construction is less common than other options. For instance, you might say, "Seeing the car swerve, she had to dive away to avoid being hit."

Common error

While "dive away" can be effective in narrative or informal contexts, avoid using it excessively in formal writing. Over-reliance on this phrase can make your writing sound less polished. Instead, opt for more conventional alternatives like "retreat", "evade" or "move quickly" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "dive away" primarily functions as an intransitive verb describing a quick, evasive movement. As Ludwig examples show, it often conveys the action of rapidly moving to avoid danger or an undesirable situation. Ludwig AI notes it is not a standard English construct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dive away" is a phrasal verb used to describe a quick, evasive movement, primarily to avoid something dangerous or unpleasant. While grammatically acceptable, it's not a particularly common phrase in contemporary English, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. Usage tends to lean towards neutral or informal contexts, with news sources providing several examples. When writing, consider whether more common alternatives like "dart away" or "flee" might be more appropriate, especially in formal writing. The phrase is suitable for narrative contexts where a sense of urgency and immediacy is desired. Overall, while "dive away" is understandable, writers should be mindful of its relative rarity and choose it deliberately for its specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dart away

Implies a sudden and quick movement, often to avoid something or someone.

scurry away

Suggests a hurried and slightly panicked departure, often used for small creatures.

flee

Emphasizes a rapid escape from danger or an unpleasant situation.

make a hasty retreat

Highlights the organized yet quick nature of the departure, often to avoid conflict.

veer off

Implies a sudden change in direction, rather than a complete escape, useful in describing movement.

break away

Suggests freeing oneself from a hold or restraint, then moving rapidly.

peel off

Indicates detaching from a formation or group and moving away quickly.

break for it

Informal phrase indicating a sudden dash for freedom or safety.

bolt

Implies a very sudden and rapid movement, often driven by fear or surprise.

dodge

Suggests a quick evasive movement to avoid being hit or caught.

FAQs

How can I use "dive away" in a sentence?

"Dive away" is used to describe a rapid movement to escape something. For example: "The sergeant "dived away" from the oncoming car".

What's a good alternative to "dive away"?

Alternatives to "dive away" include "dart away", "scurry away", or "flee", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "dive away" formal or informal?

"Dive away" leans towards informal usage. For formal contexts, consider alternatives like "retreat" or "evade".

Is "dive away" commonly used in English?

While grammatically correct, "dive away" is not a particularly common phrase in English. There are other alternatives more frequently used to express the same meaning, as suggested by Ludwig AI.