Do you need to get away?
Lindsay and Aubrey share how native English speakers use the phrasal verb ‘get away.’
It’s most often used to talk about vacations.
This is one of the best things to chat about with colleagues.
Listen in on today’s episode to learn about this high-level phrasal verb and how to use it in your conversations.
Get away on a weekend
Lindsay asks Aubrey if it was nice to get away with her family.
Aubrey was so pleased with the vacation.
It was only a three-hour drive from Phoenix to the beach in Mexico.
It was an amazing experience, especially because she was able to use her Spanish.
Every time she spoke to someone in Spanish, the local residents responded to her in Spanish.
She was able to connect and enjoy her trip even more.
In a border town where residents often speak English well, they have often responded in English so she’s excited for this evidence that her Spanish is improving.
Aubrey points out that she also wants the All Ears English listeners to have that feeling when they go out and speak English.
It’s an amazing feeling to speak English and be understood and build a connection.
Useful phrasal verb: get away
She then asks Aubrey what the phrasal verb ‘get away’ means.
Aubrey said they mentioned this in a previous episode.
In episode 1851: How to Talk About Your Pre-trip Rituals in English, they promised to make an episode about ‘get away’ and how to use it in a conversation.
Native English speakers use this all the time to share about their trips with friends, family and coworkers.
An escape
This phrasal verb is used a few different ways, but each time ‘get away’ means an escape of some sort.
It is very different from ‘get away with’ which was discussed in episode 1844: You Can Get Away With This Amazing Vocabulary in English
‘Get away’ means to escape.
Lindsay says when she hears this, she is reminded of Alcatraz.
Alcatraz is an old prison on an island off the coast of San Francisco, California.
It is a good historical reference that makes you understand phrases more like a native English speaker.
The following are some ways that you can use the phrasal verb ‘get away’.
#1: Taking a break
Aubrey explains that you can use the ‘get away’ to say you want to take a break from your work or life.
This is a native way to express that you are busy with day-to-day activities.
If you are stressed or overworked, you may feel you need to get away!
This could be for an hour or two to have brunch or meet up with friends.
It could also be longer, like a vacation.
#3: A vacation
Aubrey shares that you can also use ‘getaway’ as a noun.
- getaway: a vacation
You can say, “My family and I are going for a weekend getaway to the Bahamas.”
If you use it as a noun, it is spelled as one word.
#4: To make a start
In this way, is used to refer to when your escape starts.
Native speakers use it to discuss when they will leave.
If many people are caravaning and coordinating schedules, they might ask:
“What time are you planning to get away?”
It’s a native way to ask, “What time are you leaving?”
Roleplay
The following roleplay will help you see how this is used in conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Aubrey are teenagers that recently graduated from high school.
Lindsay: I bet you can’t wait to get away and get some independence.
Aubrey: I know! I’ve been wanting to get away from this town but now that it’s here, I’m sad.
Lindsay: You leave tomorrow morning. What time do you think you’ll get away?
Aubrey: I’m shooting for 8:00 am.
Lindsay: Well, come back and visit as soon as you can get away.
This scenario makes Lindsay look back and remember her first day of college.
She was so excited to be a freshman in college.
When her parents dropped her off, she cried for the rest of the day.
Aubrey shared that she had a different experience.
She was so happy to get away from Idaho, but when she arrived on campus she felt hesitant.
It was a bit frightening when it hit her that she was officially on her own.
Takeaway
Phrasal verbs can be very confusing.
Don’t be intimidated and worried about making mistakes.
Use these phrasal verbs to connect, and go ahead and have that conversation.
It’s the connection that’s important. Connection not perfection!
Do your best to build relationships and keep practicing and learning English.
The phrasal verb ‘get away’ is good to use in a conversation to learn more about your friends and colleagues.
They would be happy to share with you their vacation experiences.
What is your ideal getaway?
Answer in the comments below and let us know where you’re getting away to.
