Go away means to leave home for a while (on holiday, for the weekend) or to leave so that you are no longer near someone. It is also used about pain or a problem that stops: My headache went away. The command Go away! sounds sharp, like “Leave me alone!”
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go away for + time; go away on + holiday/business; pain/problem + goes away; Go away!
- We're going away for the weekend, so could you feed our cat?
- The pain in my knee went away after a week of rest.
- I told the salesman I wasn't interested, but he wouldn't go away.
What changed
First versionWe're going away in holiday next Friday.
RevisionWe're going away on holiday next Friday.
“In” or “to” may seem possible before “holiday”, but in British English the preposition is “on”: go away on holiday, be on holiday. A work trip works the same way: go away on business.
“Go out” means to leave the house for a short time to go somewhere, and come back the same day: We're going out for dinner tonight. “Go away” means you will be gone longer, or you are travelling somewhere else: We're going away for a week in August.
Your turn
We won't be at home next week because we're ___ to the mountains for five days.
Show the answer
going away — The speakers are leaving for the mountains for five days and won't be at home, so “going away” is right. “Going out” is for a short outing, such as an evening at the cinema or in a café.
Write about a trip you are planning. Say where you are going and for how long.
In October we're going away to Sochi for ten days to celebrate my mum's birthday.
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