Cool MateAvoid vs You stay away from him
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Avoid
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
You stay away from him
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Avoid
| Avoid | You stay away from him | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈvɔɪd//🇺🇸 //əˈvɔɪd// | 🇬🇧 //juː steɪ əˈweɪ frəm hɪm//🇺🇸 //ju steɪ əˈweɪ frəm hɪm// |
| Meaning | Stay away from something | Avoid him and do not get close. |
| Example | It's best to avoid fast food for better health. | You should stay away from him; he might be trouble. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | avoid contact, avoid trouble, avoid mistakes | stay away from danger, stay away from trouble, stay away from negative influences |
| Antonyms | confront, face | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'avoid' with 'prevent'; 'avoid' means not doing, while 'prevent' means stopping something from happening., Using 'avoid' without an object; always specify what you're avoiding., Misplacing 'avoid' in a sentence, leading to awkward phrasing. | Confused with 'stay with' which means to remain in someone's company., Mistaking 'stay away from' for other terms like 'stay near'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'avoid' when you want to not do something. It's neutral and fits in most contexts, but might sound too formal in casual conversations. | Used in conversations to advise someone to avoid a person; generally neutral tone but can be serious depending on context. |
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Frequently asked questions: Avoid vs You stay away from him
What's the difference between Avoid and You stay away from him?
Avoid: Stay away from something You stay away from him: Avoid him and do not get close.
Which is more common: Avoid and You stay away from him?
Avoid is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Avoid: It's best to avoid fast food for better health. You stay away from him: You should stay away from him; he might be trouble.
Can I use Avoid and You stay away from him interchangeably?
Not always. Avoid and You stay away from him 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.