to skitter away
1
5.8
- phrasal verb
- /ˈskɪtər əˈweɪ/
:
escabullirse
- At the sound of footsteps, the insects quickly skittered away into the grass.
- skittered away across the floor
- small rodents skittered away
- then skittered away
Examples
-
The raccoon started at the sound of his voice and skittered away into the darkening afternoon.
Fiction book (1994) -
Behind him, the paper plates went skittering away toward the church.
Fiction book (1998) -
Then it skitters away, like a mouse through a hole.
Fiction book (1999) -
Sandpipers skittered away from them.
Fiction book (2000) -
Several of the winged creatures skittered away from it as if blown by the wind.
Fiction book (1993) -
Something skittered away through the shadows ahead, claws clicking on stone.
Fiction book (1992) -
Pigeons fluttered nearby, and some small rodents skittered away at her approach.
Fiction book (1992) -
When they reached the hall, Cleo and Candide skittered away like small, striped ghosts, while Yorick and Agate roused with threatening growls.
Fiction book (1990) -
The startled squirrels skittered away as soon as they heard the noise.
-
When the cat jumped, the mice skittered away in different directions to escape.
Synonyms
54
3.1
To move quickly with short, hurried steps because you feel afraid or rushed
31
7.2
To move back suddenly because of fear or surprise
31
5.5
To move quickly with short hurried steps, often to hide or escape
29
2.8
Move a short distance quickly, often to make room or hurry
22
3.2
To move quickly with small, light, playful steps
16
6.7
To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen
14
9.3
To run away quickly because you are afraid
9
6.1
To move lightly and quickly, often in short quick steps like a leaf or small animal
5
4.9
Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared
2
2.5
Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry
1
9.1
Leave quickly, often because you are scared
1
8.2
To move quickly with short, hurried steps when you feel nervous
1
8.4
To go away quickly because you are in a hurry
1
6.1
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'skitter' already denotes a quick, light, often frightened motion and the particle 'away' simply adds direction (movement to another location), so the combined meaning is directly recoverable from the parts. This verb + away compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically, making the phrase immediately understandable to a learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Skitter away shows a small, quick image: something that skitters makes light, rapid steps and then goes away fast, like a lizard darting under a rock or leaves racing across the road. So it now means 'to move quickly and lightly, often because you are frightened'.