Cool MateDon't come back vs Stay away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't come back
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Stay away
Top 3,000 (common)
Most formal: Stay awayMost common: Don't come back
| Don't come back | Stay away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt kʌm bæk//🇺🇸 //doʊnt kʌm bæk// | 🇬🇧 //steɪ əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //steɪ əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | Don't return or show up again. | Do not go near someone or something. |
| Example | After that argument, I told him, 'Don't come back.' | You should stay away from that area at night. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | never come back, come back again, please don't come back | stay away from trouble, stay away from dangerous places, stay away from negative people |
| Antonyms | - | approach, come near |
| Common mistakes | Using it in a formal situation., Confusing it with 'come back soon' which has a more positive connotation., Saying 'Don't coming back' instead of 'Don't come back'. | Confused with 'stay out' which has a different meaning., Incorrectly using 'stay away' without 'from'., Using it in a formal context. |
| Usage notes | Often used in emotional contexts or to express rejection. It's informal and can be rude. Use cautiously. | Use 'stay away' when advising caution. It's informal and might not be suited for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't come back vs Stay away
What's the difference between Don't come back and Stay away?
Don't come back: Don't return or show up again. Stay away: Do not go near someone or something.
Which is more formal: Don't come back and Stay away?
Stay away is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Don't come back and Stay away?
Don't come back is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't come back: After that argument, I told him, 'Don't come back.' Stay away: You should stay away from that area at night.
Can I use Don't come back and Stay away interchangeably?
Not always. Don't come back and Stay away are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.