Meaning
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Pack away means:
- To put things back in their proper place after use, usually by storing them neatly. Example: "She packed away the Christmas decorations."
- (Informal) To eat or drink a large amount of something quickly and easily. Example: "He can really pack away a lot of pizza."
Grammar and Usage
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Verb type: Phrasal verb (transitive, separable).
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Pattern:
- pack away + noun (for storing)
- pack away + food/drink (for eating/drinking a lot)
Examples of separable use:
- She packed the clothes away.
- He packed away three hamburgers.
Common Phrases
- pack away clothes – to store clothes not in use.
- pack away toys – to put toys back after playing.
- pack away food – to eat a lot of food.
Collocations
- pack away neatly
- pack away the dishes
- pack away leftovers
- pack away an enormous meal
Examples
- We packed away the camping gear after the trip.
- The kids packed away their toys before bedtime.
- She packed away the summer clothes when autumn arrived.
- He can pack away five bowls of ramen in one sitting.
- Don’t forget to pack away the groceries before they spoil.
- I need to pack away the documents after finishing my work.
- They packed away all the decorations once the festival ended.
- He packed away the entire cake by himself.
Synonyms or Related
- put away
- store
- stow
- clear up
- eat up (for the food-related meaning)
Antonym
- take out
- bring out
- leave out