Cool MateHands off vs Stay away
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hands off
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Stay away
Top 3,000 (common)
Most formal: Stay awayMost common: Stay away
| Hands off | Stay away | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //hændz ɒf//🇺🇸 //hændz ɔf// | 🇬🇧 //steɪ əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //steɪ əˈweɪ// |
| Meaning | Don't touch something. | Do not go near someone or something. |
| Example | When you see the sign, remember: hands off! | You should stay away from that area at night. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | hands off policy, hands off approach, keep hands off, apply hands off | stay away from trouble, stay away from dangerous places, stay away from negative people |
| Antonyms | - | approach, come near |
| Common mistakes | Used in literal sense only; it's also used metaphorically., Confused with 'hands on' which means to be involved., Doesn't include 'of' when referring to specific items. | 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 casual settings and when someone is warning others to not interfere. Not suitable for formal communication. | Use 'stay away' when advising caution. It's informal and might not be suited for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hands off vs Stay away
What's the difference between Hands off and Stay away?
Hands off: Don't touch something. Stay away: Do not go near someone or something.
Which is more formal: Hands off and Stay away?
Stay away is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Hands off and Stay away?
Stay away is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hands off: When you see the sign, remember: hands off! Stay away: You should stay away from that area at night.
Can I use Hands off and Stay away interchangeably?
Not always. Hands off 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.