Cool MateExclude vs Tell ’em to go away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Exclude
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Tell ’em to go away
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: ExcludeMost common: Exclude
| Exclude | Tell ’em to go away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈskluːd/","/ɪkˈskluːdz/","/ɪkˈskluːdɪd/","/ɪkˈskluːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈskluːd/","/ɪkˈskluːdz/","/ɪkˈskluːdɪd/","/ɪkˈskluːdɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɛl əm tə ɡoʊ əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //tɛl əm tə ɡoʊ əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | To leave something out or not include it. | Tell them to leave. |
| Example | You should exclude any irrelevant details from your report. | When I saw them following me, I had to tell ’em to go away. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | altogether, completely, entirely, be designed to, attempt to, try to, from, feel excluded, socially excluded, altogether, completely, entirely, be designed to, attempt to, try to, from, feel excluded, socially excluded, altogether, completely, entirely, be designed to, attempt to, try to, from, feel excluded, socially excluded | tell someone something, go away, tell ’em, tell them to leave, go away quietly |
| Antonyms | include, admit | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Exclude' is often confused with 'include' as opposites., Learners sometimes use 'exclude' with incorrect prepositions., Some learners forget to use an object after 'exclude'. | Omitting the contraction: 'Tell them to go away' instead of 'Tell ’em to go away.', Using 'to' correctly, often confusing it with 'for'., Confusing 'tell’ with 'say'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'exclude' in contexts where you're saying that something is not part of a group. Appropriate in both written and spoken English but avoid in very casual settings. | This phrase is casual and often used in conversation. It's not suitable for formal or professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Exclude vs Tell ’em to go away
What's the difference between Exclude and Tell ’em to go away?
Exclude: To leave something out or not include it. Tell ’em to go away: Tell them to leave.
Which is more formal: Exclude and Tell ’em to go away?
Exclude is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Exclude and Tell ’em to go away?
Exclude is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Exclude: You should exclude any irrelevant details from your report. Tell ’em to go away: When I saw them following me, I had to tell ’em to go away.
Can I use Exclude and Tell ’em to go away interchangeably?
Not always. Exclude and Tell ’em to go 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.