Cool MateDon't even look at them vs Stay away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't even look at them
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Stay away
Top 3,000 (common)
Most formal: Stay awayMost common: Stay away
| Don't even look at them | Stay away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt ˈiːvən lʊk æt ðɛm//🇺🇸 //doʊnt ˈivən lʊk æt ðɛm// | 🇬🇧 //steɪ əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //steɪ əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | Don't pay attention to them. | Do not go near someone or something. |
| Example | Just don't even look at them; they're trouble. | You should stay away from that area at night. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | look at someone, don’t look at someone, ignore someone | stay away from trouble, stay away from dangerous places, stay away from negative people |
| Antonyms | Look directly at them, Gaze upon them, Face them, Observe them closely | approach, come near |
| Common mistakes | Learners might add unnecessary words, making it too complex., Confusing 'look at' with 'look for'. | Confused with 'stay out' which has a different meaning., Incorrectly using 'stay away' without 'from'., Using it in a formal context. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversation to tell someone not to consider or engage with others; can be rude if said strongly. | Use 'stay away' when advising caution. It's informal and might not be suited for formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Don't even look at them vs Stay away
What's the difference between Don't even look at them and Stay away?
Don't even look at them: Don't pay attention to them. Stay away: Do not go near someone or something.
Which is more formal: Don't even look at them and Stay away?
Stay away is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Don't even look at them and Stay away?
Stay away is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't even look at them: Just don't even look at them; they're trouble. Stay away: You should stay away from that area at night.
Can I use Don't even look at them and Stay away interchangeably?
Not always. Don't even look at them 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.