fly away

USAGE SUMMARY

"fly away" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in a variety of contexts to indicate something departing or being released. For example: "The eagle flew away, its majestic wings unfurling against the sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Watch them fly away.

Cornell University

He swatted a fly away.

The New Yorker

My concerns fly away.

The Guardian - Travel

Don't fly away!

The New Yorker

Fly away, Becky.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"He could not just fly away".

Independent

They fly away when they must.

The New York Times - Travel

I assumed it would fly away.

The New York Times

I saw it fly away.

The New York Times

He'd want to fly away.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's fly-away frizz.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fly away" to describe literal departures, such as birds leaving a nest, or metaphorical ones, like worries disappearing.

Common error

Avoid using "fly away" in highly formal or technical writing where more precise or sophisticated vocabulary is expected. For example, instead of saying "the funds flew away" in a financial report, use "the funds were depleted".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "fly away" functions primarily as an intransitive verb, indicating movement away from a location by means of flight. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and correct usage in English, as demonstrated by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

25%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fly away" is a versatile and frequently used phrasal verb in English, primarily functioning as an intransitive verb to describe physical or metaphorical departures. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and wide applicability make it suitable for various contexts, with a neutral register that lends itself well to both informal and formal communication. While predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, its core meaning remains consistent: to depict movement away, whether literal or figurative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take flight

Implies a more sudden or dramatic departure, often used metaphorically.

soar off

Suggests a graceful and effortless movement away.

ascend into the sky

Focuses on the upward movement and elevation during departure.

escape

General term for breaking free from confinement or danger.

disappear

General term for ceasing to be visible.

bolt

Suggests a sudden and rapid escape.

abscond

Implies a secret and often illegal departure.

leave

Simplest and most general term for departing.

vanish

Suggests a sudden and complete disappearance.

make off

Implies a hasty departure, often with something stolen.

FAQs

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

"Fly away" can be used to describe the action of something taking off into the air, as in, "The bird began to "fly away"." It can also be used metaphorically to describe something disappearing or going away, such as, "I hope my worries will "fly away" soon."

What can I say instead of "fly away"?

You can use alternatives like "take flight", "soar off", or "disappear" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "fly away" or "flies away"?

The correct form depends on the subject of the sentence. Use "fly away" with plural subjects or the pronoun "I", "you", "we", or "they". Use "flies away" with singular subjects such as "he", "she", or "it".

What's the difference between "fly away" and "float away"?

"Fly away" implies powered or natural flight, typically by birds or insects. "Float away" suggests a gentle, unpowered drift, like a balloon or a feather in the wind.