play away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "play away" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase typically means to engage in an activity or game away from home, often for entertainment or competition. Example: The soccer team decided to play away this weekend, traveling to a nearby town for their match.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Play away, gentlemen.

The New York Times

We're going to play away.

Independent

Can't they play away out the back?

The New Yorker

I'm always one play away from playing".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's like we were one pitch or one play away.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were one play away," Packers coach Mike McCarthy reflected.

The Guardian - Sport

"When you play away these things happen," Ramirez says.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's our play away from the puck," Tortorella continually stressed to reporters over the last week.

The New York Times

Sykora has played every game, and his play away from the puck has been noticed.

The New York Times - Sports

I even at one point considered, Should I put the play away and forget about it?

The New Yorker

We goalkeepers are highly motivated also if you play away and the fans are against you.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "play away" in a sporting context, ensure the sentence clearly indicates which team or individual is playing at the opponent's venue for optimal clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "play away" in contexts where it could be confused with infidelity. Clarify the intended meaning, especially in informal settings, to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play away" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the act of competing at an opponent's venue. Ludwig's examples show this usage in sports contexts, highlighting its role in describing game locations and strategies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

35%

General Conversation

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "play away" is commonly used to describe a team competing at an opponent's venue. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, primarily in news and sports media. While it can also refer to infidelity, this usage is less frequent, so consider the context to avoid confusion. For clearer communication, especially in sports, specify the team or individual playing away from home.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

participate in an away game

Highlights participation in a game that takes place in another team's location.

compete on the road

Focuses on the competitive aspect of playing in a different location.

travel to compete

Highlights the purpose of traveling: to compete in a specific event.

take the field away

Emphasizes the change in venue when engaging in sporting events.

perform at an opposing venue

Emphasizes the act of performing in a location that belongs to the opponent.

travel for a match

Focuses on the act of traveling for a sporting event.

go on the road

General term referring to traveling, often for work or performances.

be unfaithful

Refers to the act of cheating on a partner.

have an affair

Describes engaging in a secret romantic relationship.

steal the spotlight

Signifies taking attention or success from someone else.

FAQs

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

You can use "play away" to describe a sports team competing at an opponent's venue, like "The team will "play away" this weekend in the championship game."

What does "play away" mean in football/soccer?

In football or soccer, "play away" means that a team will play a match at the opposing team's stadium, rather than their own home ground.

What's the difference between "play away" and "play at home"?

"Play away" means to compete at the opponent's venue, while "play at home" signifies competing at one's own venue.

Is "play away" used outside of sports contexts?

Yes, although less common, "play away" can be used to describe someone being sexually unfaithful out of their home. The sports context is more frequent and widely understood.