squirrel away

USAGE SUMMARY

"squirrel away" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in the sense of hiding or saving something away, usually money, for future use. For example, "I've been squirreling away extra money in my savings account for a rainy day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What would you squirrel away?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Many will squirrel away their reserves in property.

The Economist

Your career becomes a race to squirrel away a bundle.

The New Yorker

So I'd squirrel away my stash in a shoebox in the wardrobe.

The Guardian - Music

Somebody with intimate knowledge of the systems might try to squirrel away some trades.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it's still pitiful compared to the profits they squirrel away in tax havens".

The Guardian - Books

Many Western economists say that Asians should squirrel away less of their income and consume much more.

The Economist

In the past, they had latitude to squirrel away extra reserves if they felt a boom was ending.

The Economist

Privacy isn't the responsibility of individuals to squirrel away secrets; it's the decency of individuals to leave other's lives alone.

The New York Times

Mr. Cumming, who keeps up a steady flow of clues, manages to squirrel away a nice whopper for the end.

The New York Times - Books

Savings and debt Nadia should squirrel away as much as possible into a cash ISA while she can.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "squirrel away" when you want to emphasize the act of carefully saving or hiding something, often for future security or need. It's particularly fitting when describing financial savings or stockpiling resources.

Common error

Avoid using "squirrel away" when simply describing a general saving or storage action without the implication of careful hiding or future need. Using "save" or "store" might be more appropriate in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "squirrel away" functions primarily as a verb, indicating an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in English. It describes the act of hiding or saving something, typically for future use or security, similar to how a squirrel hides nuts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "squirrel away" is a commonly used phrasal verb that means to hide or save something for future use, often implying careful planning or secrecy. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent appearance in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it leans towards the informal side. Consider alternatives like "save for a rainy day" or "stash away" depending on the desired nuance and formality. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intent of careful saving or hiding, rather than simple storage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

save for a rainy day

Focuses specifically on saving money for unexpected future needs.

stash away

Emphasizes the act of hiding something, often implying secrecy.

hoard

Implies accumulating a large quantity of something, sometimes excessively.

set aside

Highlights the act of allocating something for a specific purpose.

put by

A simpler, more general term for saving money.

lay away

Similar to 'set aside', but can also refer to reserving an item for later purchase.

cache

Often refers to hiding something in a secure or secret location.

accumulate

Focuses on gradually increasing the amount of something over time.

build up

Implies a gradual increase, often referring to savings or resources.

salt away

An informal term for saving money, often implying a large sum.

FAQs

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

You can use "squirrel away" to describe the act of saving or hiding something for future use, such as "She managed to "squirrel away" a considerable sum of money for her retirement".

What's a good alternative to "squirrel away"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "squirrel away" with phrases like "save for a rainy day", "stash away", or "hoard".

Is "squirrel away" formal or informal?

"Squirrel away" is generally considered an informal phrase. In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "set aside" or "accumulate".

What's the difference between "squirrel away" and "save"?

While both involve setting something aside for later, ""squirrel away"" implies a more deliberate act of hiding or preserving, often for a specific future need. "Save" is a more general term.