tack away from

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase 'tack away from' is not a common expression in the English language.
It would not be used in written English as it does not have an established definition.

News & Media

Wiki

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

As energy companies tack away from coal, toward cleaner, cheaper natural gas, people here have grown increasingly afraid that their community may soon slip away.

The New York Times

Although this hardly amounts to democracy, it is a political marketplace and, as Mr Ahmadinejad discovered, policies that tack away from the consensus do not last.

The Economist

Spithill performed a cocksure hook maneuver to get around the Kiwis and forced them to tack away from the line to avoid a penalty.

The New York Times - Sports

The good news is there is a change in tack away from mega-contracts that only the BTs and HPs of the world can bid for.

The Guardian

But Dalton says he is convinced that the event needs to tack away from the billionaire-versus-billionaire approach that has been back in vogue in the last decade.

The New York Times - Sports

The resulting savings depend crucially on how fast the block payment would grow; Mr Ryan would hold it to much less than the historical rate of health-care inflation.Mr Romney may want to tack away from these proposals over the course of the campaign in an effort to woo centrist voters.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Mr Draghi has tacked away from Mr Trichet's embrace of austerity.

The Economist

Just as strikingly, Trump tacked away from some of the G.O.P.'s favorite economic policies.

The New Yorker

In his faith life, he has tacked away from extremes, moving beyond denominational boundaries into a more universal Christianity.

The New York Times

Fearing it might put its media partners' teeth on edge, the company has since tacked away from talk like that, but its dominion over content has only grown.

The New York Times

Mr. Zatulin said he was not upset by these tacks away from Russia, but there was an edge to his answer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tack away from" when describing a strategic shift or change in direction, especially in situations involving navigation or competition, as in sailing. Note that Ludwig AI considers this usage uncommon.

Common error

Avoid using "tack away from" in contexts where a simpler phrase like "move away from" or "diverge from" would be more appropriate and easily understood. The nautical origin can make it seem out of place in everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tack away from" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating a change in direction or strategy. It is often used in contexts where a deliberate shift is being made, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Sports

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tack away from" is a phrasal verb that describes a strategic shift or change in direction, often rooted in nautical terminology. While it appears mostly in news and media contexts, its overall usage is rare, according to Ludwig. Ludwig AI also indicates that the phrase is not a common expression. Alternatives include "move away from", "diverge from", and "shift away from", which might be more appropriate in general contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it fits the analytical or strategic nature of the discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move away from

A more literal and general way of expressing physical or abstract movement away.

shift away from

Highlights a change in focus or strategy.

diverge from

Indicates a deviation from a standard or expected path or opinion.

shy away from

Expresses reluctance or avoidance due to fear or discomfort.

veer away from

Suggests a sharp change in direction or approach.

turn away from

Suggests a rejection or abandonment of something.

depart from

Implies a formal or significant change in course or action.

retreat from

Indicates a withdrawal or backing away from a position or commitment.

distance oneself from

Highlights an effort to create separation or disassociation.

break away from

Implies a forceful or decisive separation from a constraint or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "tack away from" in a sentence?

You can use "tack away from" to describe a strategic shift or change in direction. For example, "The company decided to "move away from" its traditional marketing methods and "adopt" a new digital strategy."

What does "tack away from" mean?

The phrase "tack away from" means to change direction or strategy, often to avoid a problem or take advantage of an opportunity. It is derived from sailing terminology.

What can I say instead of "tack away from"?

You can use alternatives like ""move away from"", "diverge from", or "shift away from" depending on the context.

Is "tack away from" formal or informal?

The phrase "tack away from" tends to be more neutral, but can be considered slightly technical due to its nautical origins. It's suitable for news and analytical contexts.