to shoo away

Examples

• All

• Crawling between the rails of the corral fence, he shooed two horses away from the watering trough.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "Get out of here," Martin said, shooing me away with the cigar.

  Fiction book (1996)

• We have to shoo them away.

  St. Vincent (2014)

• If the birds are sitting, just shoo them away.

  Dartmoor Killing (2015)

• I was trying to shoo him away very gently.

  Michael (1996)

• One wise guy is trying to shoo a cow away from his car.

  Fiction book (1999)

• And the old lady shooed Livvie and me away whenever we came near.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Singing can help shoo away troubling thoughts.

  Milarepa (2025)

• Champ runs into the street, and Toby tries to shoo him away.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Lou started to help, but Laurie shooed him away since he was not gloved.

  Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

S

to scare off

vsto shoo away

68 2.7

To make people or animals go away by frightening them

uses a short noise or gesture rather than frightening

S

to scare away

vsto shoo away

47 2.5

Make a person or animal go away because they are afraid

uses a short sound or gesture instead of causing fear

S

to send packing

vsto shoo away

• Informal

8 6.5

To make someone leave quickly to show they are not wanted

does the same but by a short noise or gesture rather than abrupt dismissal

C

to chase off

vsto shoo away

6 3.3

Make someone or something leave a place by running after and frightening them

uses a short sound or simple gesture rather than forceful pursuit

S

to show the door

vsto shoo away

• Informal

6 6.7

Tell someone to leave a place firmly

relies on a quick sound or gesture rather than a firm order

S

to show someone the door

vsto shoo away

• Informal

5 6.4

Tell someone to leave a place in a rude or angry way

uses a short call or gesture rather than a formal eviction

G

to give the heave-ho

vsto shoo away

• Informal

4 8.5

To tell someone to leave their job or to stop using something

uses a brief noise or motion rather than abrupt removal without ceremony

S

to send someone packing

vsto shoo away

• Informal

4 7.9

Make someone leave quickly and forcefully

uses a quick vocal or hand signal instead of abrupt force

U

to usher out

vsto shoo away

3 5.1

To lead someone politely out of a room or building at the end of an event

uses a quick shout or wave rather than a polite guided exit

S

to shoo off

vsto shoo away

1 5.4

Make a person or animal go away with words and gestures

is the same action and is used in the same situations

Antonyms

W

to welcome

583 1.0

Greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive

A

to ask in

12 1.0

Invite someone to come into a room or house

How Forceful

to evict

77 4.6

to show someone the door

• Informal

5 6.4

to drive away

71 3.4

to shoo away

5 4.1

to send away

43 3.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology