fold away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fold away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an object that can be collapsed or stored in a compact form, often for convenience or space-saving purposes. Example: "After using the table for dinner, you can easily fold it away and store it in the closet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Headscarfed Muslim women fold away some washing.

The Guardian - Arts

Choose beds with built-in storage and sofa beds that fold away.

Independent

Life continuing could not fold away what had happened, but it offered something, blurring the drama of death's immediacy.

The New Yorker

This one is easy to set up and fold away into its own travel bag, and it is also lightweight.

Independent

Yorktown, his staff was frantically trying to fold away some of the empty chairs to make the audience look larger.

The New York Times

The solution: make the colander from soft, flexible silicone on a sturdy plastic frame, with legs that fold away allowing it to be stored flat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Design 2.2 provided an alternative folding seat design, allowing transverse seating arrangements to be folded away to the side of the carriage.

Urban Rail Transit

He was folding away the sofa bed.

The New Yorker

And we now have furniture that can be folded away.

The New York Times - Style

When the speed drops to 50, the spoiler folds away.

The New York Times - Travel

"What a troublesome country Cambodia is!" she chattily remarked, folding away her newspaper as she spoke.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing furniture or equipment designed for space-saving, use "fold away" to highlight its ability to be compactly stored when not in use. This emphasizes the convenience and design aspect.

Common error

Avoid using "fold away" to describe simply putting something in a general location. "Fold away" implies a specific folding or collapsing mechanism for compact storage.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fold away" is a phrasal verb, acting as a verb and adverb combination to describe the action of collapsing and storing something. As shown in the examples by Ludwig, this is often used to describe space-saving furniture or equipment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "fold away" describes the act of collapsing and storing an item, particularly when designed for space-saving. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and common occurrence in contexts ranging from News & Media to Wiki entries. It's important to use this phrase when referring to a specific folding or collapsing mechanism, rather than a general act of putting something away. Alternatives include "put away", "stow away", and "pack away", although "fold away" is precise in denoting the action of folding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put away

Focuses on the action of storing something, omitting the folding aspect.

stow away

Emphasizes concealing something, often in a hidden place.

pack away

Implies preparing something for storage, usually in a container.

collapse

Highlights the action of making something smaller in size. It's a bit more general, as "fold away" implies order and structure.

tuck away

Suggests placing something in a snug or hidden location.

hide away

Focuses on concealing something from view.

stash away

Implies storing something secretly for future use.

roll up

Describes compressing items by rolling them.

dismantle

Indicates taking something apart, not necessarily for storage.

put into storage

Refers specifically to placing items in a storage facility.

FAQs

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

You can use "fold away" to describe how an item is stored after use, such as: "The table can "fold away" when not needed" or "The bed "folds away" into the wall to save space".

What's an alternative to the phrase "fold away"?

Alternatives include "put away", "stow away", or "pack away", depending on the context. These alternatives capture the essence of storing something, sometimes with an emphasis on concealment or order.

Is it correct to say "folded away" or "fold away"?

"Fold away" is the base verb form, while "folded away" is the past participle or past tense form. Use "fold away" for general statements and "folded away" when referring to an action that has already occurred.

What's the difference between "fold away" and "put away"?

"Put away" is a more general term for storing something, while "fold away" specifically implies that the item is designed to be collapsed or folded before being stored.