The phrase "scared away" is spelled with the phonemes /skɛrd əweɪ/. The initial sound is a voiceless velar fricative /sk/ followed by the tense vowel /ɛ/. The final sound is a glide /w/ followed by the diphthong /eɪ/. The spelling is derived from the root word "scare", meaning to frighten or startle, and the particle "away", indicating movement in a direction away from the speaker. The phrase implies that something or someone has been frightened to the point of leaving or running away.
"Scared away" is a phrasal verb that describes the action of causing fear or frighten someone or something to the point of making them flee or retreat. It commonly refers to frightening or intimidating an individual, animal, or even a group, resulting in their immediate departure or withdrawal from a particular location or situation.
When an individual or group is "scared away", it indicates that the fear experienced is so overwhelming that they hurriedly and instinctively seek safety, often desperately attempting to distance themselves from the source of fear. This action may involve physical escape, such as running or fleeing in haste, as well as psychological detachment or avoidance.
The phrase can also be used metaphorically to describe situations where individuals are dissuaded or deterred from pursuing a particular course of action or from engaging in certain behaviors due to feelings of fear or intimidation. For example, a loud and aggressive argument could "scare away" potential customers from entering a store.
Overall, "scared away" entails inducing a state of fear or fright so strong that it compels a person or entity to hastily depart, avoid, or withdraw in response to the perceived threat or danger.
The word "scared away" is a combination of "scared" and "away".
The term "scared" originated from the Middle English word "skerren", which means "to frighten". It further derives from the Old Norse word "skirra", meaning "to frighten or terrify". The Old Norse word has roots in the Proto-Germanic word "skerrjan", which also carried the sense of "to frighten".
The word "away" has Old English origins and can be traced back to the word "onweg" or "æweg", which means "onward" or "from this place".
When combined, "scared away" forms a phrase that describes the act of causing someone or something to become frightened and move or run away from a particular location or situation.