Cool MateDismiss vs Tell ’em to go away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Tell ’em to go away
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: DismissMost common: Dismiss
| Dismiss | Tell ’em to go away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɛl əm tə ɡoʊ əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //tɛl əm tə ɡoʊ əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | Tell them to leave. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | 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 | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | tell someone something, go away, tell ’em, tell them to leave, go away quietly |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | 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 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | 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: Dismiss vs Tell ’em to go away
What's the difference between Dismiss and Tell ’em to go away?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Tell ’em to go away: Tell them to leave.
Which is more formal: Dismiss and Tell ’em to go away?
Dismiss is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Dismiss and Tell ’em to go away?
Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Tell ’em to go away: When I saw them following me, I had to tell ’em to go away.
Can I use Dismiss and Tell ’em to go away interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss 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.