hid by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hid by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is concealed or obscured by another object or entity. Example: "The treasure was hid by the dense foliage, making it difficult to find."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

As he had done at home, he hid by "reading like a demon.

The Guardian - Books

She hid by a tree and bushes and stayed still as she saw the soldiers' boots nearby.

The New York Times

It was not a surprise to the Taliban, however, who had either fled or hid by the time the operation started, local residents said.

The New York Times

Did you ever repeat your allegation?" Sugar reacted angrily to the post, saying he had repeated the claims in his autobiography, adding: "I never hid by high court privilege.

The Guardian

Mr. Posen's Leagues and Fathoms show on Thursday night, held in the Pool Room at the Four Seasons restaurant, was so nuttily celebrity-infested (Yoko Ono, Clare Danes, Barbara Bush and Lizzie Grubman, from whom Mr. Posen hid by ducking into a coat room) that one could have been excused for overlooking the product that was the pretext for the whole shebang.

The New York Times

"They hid by a wall but were struck by a train". Det Sgt Simon Rees, who led the investigation into their deaths, said it was "completely pitch black" on the largely moonless night, but they would have seen the train's lights coming towards them.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

His face was hidden by a mask.

The New Yorker

Its upper floors are hidden by clouds.

The Guardian - Travel

Text can be hidden by surrounding it with hide tags ([hide] [/hide]).

University of California, Berkeley

The other children were hiding by the bed.

The New York Times

His eyes were hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hid by", ensure the context clearly indicates what is doing the hiding and what is being hidden. This maintains clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid confusing "hid by" with active constructions where someone or something actively hides something else. "Hid by" emphasizes the state of being concealed, not the act of concealing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hid by" is to act as a passive construction, indicating that something is in a state of being concealed or obscured by another entity. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it is used to describe a state rather than an action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hid by" is a grammatically correct, though somewhat uncommon, way to describe something being concealed. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for use in written English, particularly in neutral and informal contexts. More formal alternatives such as "concealed by" or "obscured by" may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The examples provided by Ludwig show its usage across diverse contexts, from news articles to general descriptions. When using "hid by", it's important to ensure that the sentence structure clearly indicates what is concealing and what is being concealed to avoid any ambiguity. This passive construction emphasizes the state of being hidden rather than the action of hiding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concealed by

Replaces "hid" with a more formal synonym, "concealed", maintaining the passive voice and preposition.

obscured by

Uses "obscured" to convey a similar sense of something being less visible or clear because of something else.

covered by

Implies that something is on top of and concealing the subject.

sheltered by

Suggests protection or concealment, often from the elements or observation.

masked by

Indicates something is covering the subject from being known.

camouflaged by

Highlights the use of camouflage to make something blend in and be hidden.

screened by

Conveys the idea of something being shielded or protected from view.

disguised by

Suggests the use of something to change the appearance and conceal the original form.

protected by

Implies that the subject is being kept safe by the object, as well as out of view.

stashed by

Similar to "hid", but more informal, emphasizing that something has been put away secretly.

FAQs

How can I use "hid by" in a sentence?

You can use "hid by" to describe something that is concealed or obscured by something else. For example: "The treasure was hid by the dense foliage, making it difficult to find."

What are some alternatives to "hid by"?

Some alternatives include "concealed by", "obscured by", or "covered by", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "hidden by" or "hid by"?

"Hidden by" is more grammatically correct as "hidden" is the past participle of "hide". However, "hid by" can be used in certain contexts, although it's less common and can sound less formal. Consider using "concealed by" or "obscured by" for greater clarity.

What's the difference between "covered by" and "hid by"?

"Covered by" generally implies that something is physically on top of something else, obscuring it. "Hid by" implies a deliberate act or state of concealment. For example, "The ground was covered by snow" versus "The spy was hid by the shadows."