trick away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trick away" is not a standard expression in written English and may not be widely understood.
It could potentially be used in a context where someone is trying to deceive or distract someone else, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "He tried to trick away my attention while his friend snuck in the back door."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Although it would be unfair to give that trick away, suffice it to say it is not a whammy of a surprise.

The New York Times

Trick away!

WikiHow

The jug you choose must not be see-through or you will give the trick away.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In a campaign that ultimately ended in disappointment for Liverpool, Michael Owen grabbed an impressive hat-trick away to Spartak Moscow in typically predatory fashion.

The Guardian - Sport

The Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, began the match a hat-trick away from matching the Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas's record of 84 goals as Europe's all-time leading international striker but never looked like scoring one, let alone three.

The Guardian - Sport

We're only two confidence tricks away from grunting and barter.

The Guardian - Opinion

Magicians thought he was giving their tricks away, even if the tricks had been invented centuries earlier.

The New York Times - Tech

In keeping their architectural tricks away from most of the art, Sejima and Nishizawa establish a certain kinship with the original building of the Museum of Modern Art, by Philip Goodwin and Edward Durell Stone.

The New Yorker

The ball faintly clipped one of Gascoigne's studs and tricked away for a goal kick, as the enormity of the moment sank in for everyone watching.

The Guardian - Sport

He retained his place for the rest of the calendar year, and scored a hat-trick away against Chile on 17 December.

Wikipedia

It defies all logic, human compassion, and the best interest of any child to be deceitfully tricked away from their father.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to use the phrase "trick away", consider if a more common and readily understood alternative, such as "deceive" or "distract", would provide greater clarity to your writing.

Common error

Because "trick away" is not a standard or widely recognized phrase, using it in formal contexts can confuse readers. Opt for established alternatives to maintain clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "trick away" is that of a verb phrase, though its usage is not standard. It attempts to combine the action of deceiving (trick) with the result of something being removed or taken (away). Ludwig AI indicates that is non standard.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

67%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trick away" is a non-standard expression, meaning it's not commonly used or widely recognized in English. Analysis by Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is rarely used in professional writing, which may lead to confusion for the reader. The data suggests that when aiming for clarity, it's best to substitute "trick away" with more conventional alternatives such as "deceive", "distract", or "swindle". While the literal intent is understood, adopting such established alternatives would significantly improve clarity and communication effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

con away

Replaces trick with con, but keeps the "away" particle.

deceive out of

Replaces "trick" with a more direct synonym for deception and specifies the loss.

distract from

Focuses on diverting attention rather than outright trickery.

swindle out of

Suggests a financial fraud component not necessarily present in "trick away".

mislead and remove

Combines deception with the act of taking something away.

dupe and abscond

Focuses on fooling someone and then fleeing.

skillfully extract

Emphasizes the expertise in taking something without direct trickery.

evade and pilfer

Highlights the avoidance aspect alongside stealthy theft.

outmaneuver and seize

Indicates tactical superiority leading to taking something.

bluff and whisk away

Emphasizes a deceptive show of confidence used to quickly remove something.

FAQs

What does "trick away" mean?

The phrase "trick away" isn't a standard English idiom, so its meaning can be unclear. It generally implies using deception or a ruse to take something or someone "away".

What can I say instead of "trick away"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "trick away" include "deceive", "distract", "swindle", or "lure". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "trick away" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "trick away" is not a commonly recognized phrase. It's often better to use more standard expressions for improved clarity.

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

While it's best to use established phrases, you might say, "He tried to "trick away" her attention while his accomplice stole the keys." However, rephrasing as "He tried to distract her while his accomplice stole the keys" would be clearer.