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Mr. Tom Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Move off and move away

Hi

Is there a difference between?

He uttered some unintelligible words and then moved off.
He uttered some unintelligible words and then moved away.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

There does not seem to be a great difference in this case. Perhaps "away" more strongly suggests separation from something. (In other contexts there might be more of a difference.

— GPY

  • There does not seem to be a great difference in this case.
  • Perhaps "away" more strongly suggests separation from something.
  • (In other contexts there might be more of a difference.
  • )
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6 Answers
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There does not seem to be a great difference in this case. Perhaps "away" more strongly suggests separation from something. (In other contexts there might be more of a difference. For example, "They don't live here any more – they moved away" doesn't work with "moved off".)
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"Move off" seems wrong there. It means to start moving. "Move away" seems wrong, too. It means to change position to a more distant one. (It also means to change one's place of residence, but that is irrelevant here.) I get the feeling you want "walked off" or "walked away", instead.
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Both "move off" and "move away" work for me. Obviously numerous other verbs also work, depending on exact nuance required.
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Thanks!

So, are these correct and have the same meaning?

He uttered some sentences and walked off.
He uttered some sentences and walked away.

To
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Mr. TomThanks!So, are these correct and have the same meaning?He uttered some sentences and walked off.He uttered some sentences and walked away.To
Yes, they are correct and mean about the same. Again, "away" may have a slightly stronger emphasis on separation from something.
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I see a difference between the forms with "move" and those with "walk". To walk away and walk off are pretty much the same, except "walk off" means that he kept going. "Walk away" just means that he left, but it does not exclude the possibility that he kept going.

"Move off" is a phrasal verb with a specific meaning. "We were waving bye-bye to baby Rhianna through the sunroof when the car
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