return indoors

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "return indoors" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to go back inside a building or shelter, typically for safety or comfort reasons. Example: "As the storm approached, the teacher instructed the students to return indoors immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Hours after the quake, people in villages near the epicenter remained in the streets afraid to return indoors, said Jenny McIntyre, communications manager in Yangon for World Vision, a children's aid agency.

The New York Times

Maria Neira, director of the public health and environment department at the W.H.O., said, "If people are outside and notice irritation in their throat and lungs, a runny nose or itchy eyes, they should return indoors and limit their outdoor activities".

The New York Times - Health

Check for ticks when you return indoors and remove with tweezers.

Huffington Post

On the other hand, if bees have swarmed inside your home, you do need to get help quickly, so that you can safely return indoors as soon as possible.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He grimaced, then returned indoors.

The New York Times

Three boys finished a game of handball on King Street before returning indoors.

The New York Times

When the weather turned cool and she returned indoors, her anguished cries resumed unabated.

The New York Times

On the street she was another dog, with little regard for Perkus except as the rudder to her sails, their affair suspended until they returned indoors.

The New Yorker

Upon returning indoors & to our book, we received a gentle rebuke for our activity, delivered across the distance of nearly 400 years.

The New Yorker

When the others returned indoors, the writer saw a nightingale in a freshly pruned olive tree less than 20 feet away.

The New Yorker

Among those recommendations: DEET-based repellents should be applied to exposed skin, not under clothes, washed off after a person returns indoors and applied to the face using one's hands (not sprayed directly).

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "return indoors" to clearly instruct or describe the act of going back inside, especially when emphasizing safety or a change of environment. For example, "Due to the approaching storm, all visitors were asked to "return indoors" immediately".

Common error

Avoid using "return indoors" when a simpler term like "go inside" suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound stilted. Choose the most appropriate term based on context and desired tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "return indoors" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of going back inside. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples provided demonstrate its use in various contexts to instruct or describe the act of re-entering a building.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "return indoors" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe or instruct someone to go back inside. While confirmed as proper English by Ludwig, it is relatively rare in occurrence, mostly appearing in "News & Media", "Wiki" and "Science" contexts. When writing, ensure its use is appropriate by considering similar alternatives like "go back inside" or "head back inside" for simpler phrasing. Be mindful of potential redundancy; avoid using "return back indoors", as "return" already implies going back.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go back inside

Replaces "return" with "go back", offering a more casual alternative.

come back in

Uses "come back in" to indicate a return to an interior location.

head back inside

Substitutes "return" with "head back", implying movement toward an interior space.

go inside again

Simply adds "again" to emphasize the repeated action of entering an indoor space.

re-enter the building

Uses a more formal tone, specifying the act of entering a building again.

move back indoors

Replaces "return" with "move back", emphasizing the action of relocating inside.

retreat inside

Suggests withdrawing or moving back into a building, often for safety or comfort.

step back inside

Implies taking a step to re-enter an indoor space.

get back in the house

Specifies the location as "the house", providing a more specific context.

seek shelter indoors

Focuses on seeking protection or refuge inside, particularly relevant during adverse conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "return indoors" in a sentence?

You can use "return indoors" to instruct someone to go back inside a building or shelter, typically for safety or comfort reasons. For example: "As the storm approached, the teacher instructed the students to "return indoors" immediately."

What's a simpler way to say "return indoors"?

Simpler alternatives include "go back inside", "head back inside", or just "go inside", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "return indoors" instead of "go inside"?

"Return indoors" is suitable when emphasizing the act of going back to an interior location after being outside. "Go inside" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply a prior outdoor presence.

Is "return back indoors" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "return back indoors" is somewhat redundant because "return" already implies going back. It's better to simply say "return indoors".