dodge away

USAGE SUMMARY

"dodge away" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean to quickly move or step away in order to avoid something or someone. For example, "I saw the car approaching too quickly, so I quickly dodged away to the side of the road."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The eyes lift to take us in, even as they dodge away again.

The New Yorker

Overcome by fury, Abigail spies a fist-size rock on the ground and "fires" it into the air, "hoping to make Kathy dodge away in fear".

The New Yorker

She raised her face to me all of a sudden, let her eyes stab at mine and then dodge away again.

The New Yorker

The second, bay dogs, cause the hog to "bay up" — to take a defensive position, often at the base of a cliff or a tree — and then they hold him there by barking and making quick countermoves when the hog tries to dodge away.

The New Yorker

You can still dodge away from it and practice quickening your reaction time.

WikiHow

Wait for Zant to stop throwing energy balls and take cover with your shield or dodge away.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

She dodged away from me.

The New Yorker

The dog dodges away from her and runs offstage.

The New York Times - Magazine

Vaughn jerked backward and the man dodged away, grinning.

The New Yorker

But he was close to it, so close he could feel the room dodging away under his feet.

The New Yorker

Building armour and lifting it into space is expensive, as is dodging away from debris (something the shuttle has had to do a few times).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dodge away" to vividly describe a quick, evasive movement, especially when avoiding a direct hit or confrontation. It is particularly effective when conveying a sense of agility or narrow escape.

Common error

Avoid using "dodge away" when a simpler verb like "move" or "step aside" suffices. "Dodge away" implies a specific threat or impact being avoided, and using it in a context without such implication can sound unnatural or exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "dodge away" functions as an intransitive verb, describing an action of quick evasion. As seen in Ludwig, it often emphasizes a reflexive movement to avoid an imminent threat or contact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dodge away" is a phrasal verb used to describe a quick, evasive movement to avoid something, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not as common as other alternatives like "move aside" or "duck away", it is grammatically correct and suitable for both informal and neutral contexts, as evidenced by its presence in news media and Wiki sources. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Use it to vividly portray someone avoiding something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

duck away

Implies a quick, downward movement to avoid something, often an impact.

swerve aside

Highlights a sudden change in direction to avoid collision, adding a sense of urgency.

step back

Emphasizes retreating, but doesn't necessarily imply evading something specific.

recoil

Suggests an involuntary reaction to move away from something unpleasant or dangerous.

move aside

Focuses on the act of moving to create space, lacking the implication of avoidance.

veer off

Implies changing direction abruptly, focusing more on direction change than avoidance.

back off

Suggests creating distance to avoid confrontation or engagement, typically from an unsafe situation.

draw back

Focuses on the action of pulling back to create distance, without explicitly stating the need to evade.

get out of the way

A more general instruction to move so as not to obstruct something.

fend off

implies actively pushing away or blocking something, a more aggressive action than just "dodge away".

FAQs

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

You can use "dodge away" to describe a quick, evasive movement, like: "The boxer managed to "dodge away" from the punch at the last moment."

What does "dodge away" mean?

"Dodge away" means to quickly move or step aside to avoid something, often a projectile or another person.

What can I say instead of "dodge away"?

Alternatives to "dodge away" include "move aside", "swerve aside", or "duck away", depending on the specific context.

Is "dodge away" formal or informal?

"Dodge away" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both informal and moderately formal contexts.