wash away

wash away

1. To be removed or carried away by a moving body of water. Half the town washed away during the floods. Jonathan forgot to moor the boat properly, and it washed away when the tide went out.
2. To carry or remove by lifting or pushing it with the force of moving water. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wash" and "away." Heavy rains have been washing away the top soil for farmers across the country. He began spraying the driveway with a hose to wash the dirt away. The flash flood washed the entire group of hikers away.
3. To drift or fade away. Said especially of negative emotions or memories. Being with you now makes all those years of regret just wash away. You might need to seek help if the only thing to help your sorrow wash away is alcohol.
4. To remove, assuage, or atone for some negative feeling, memory, or experience. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wash" and "away." He's been trying to wash away his guilt for exploiting his stabbing partners in the back by making huge contributions to various charities. Only time can wash this kind of grief away.
See also: away, wash
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wash someone or something away

[for a flood of water] to carry someone or something away. The flood washed the boats away. The high water washed away much of the sand along the shoreline.
See also: away, wash

wash something away

to clean something by scrubbing and flushing away the dirt. Fresh water will wash the seawater away. Let's wash away these muddy footprints.
See also: away, wash

wash away

to be carried away by water or some other liquid. The bridge washed away in the flood. All the soil washed away and left the rocks exposed.
See also: away, wash
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

wash away

v.
1. To carry away or remove something by the action of moving water: The waves washed away the debris on the beach. Heavy rains washed the topsoil away.
2. To be carried away or removed by the action of water: Our boat washed away in the storm.
3. To eliminate some corruption or guilt: He tried to wash away his regret by getting drunk. She hoped to wash her guilt away by confessing to the crime.
See also: away, wash
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

wash someone away

tv. to kill someone. (Underworld.) The mob triggers came by and tried to wash away a druggy type.
See also: away, someone, wash
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • are we away
  • Are we away?
  • drift away
  • drain away
  • away
  • draw away
  • do away with
  • do away with (someone, something, or oneself)
  • draw away from (someone or something)
  • dwindle away
References in periodicals archive
William Trotter trying to wash away blood with a bottle of Pepsi
Burglar tried to hide DNA with Pepsi; pizza shop intruder thought he could wash blood away
They found that efficiency dipped most after periods that combined low winds, in which insects put in the most flight hours, with no rain to wash away carcasses.
Insects in the wind lead to less power
Soap bubbles help wash away disease-causing bacteria (single-celled organisms) and other germs.
HANDS--CLEAN or DIRTY?
Dylon Grade E-1626 is a combination of builders, detergents, anionic and non-ionic surfactants and penetrants that safely and completely loosen and wash away oils, waxes, silicon and sludgesk.
Diecasting Equipment Cleaner
Each time I entered church, the font invited me to dip my hand into the water and cross myself, a gesture that was said to wash away the residue of venial sin.
Holy waters run deep
Ultramarine waves fold over round river rocks smooth as a newborn's cheek where each night slips as the day into infinity manana no time some time forget the time clock watch God's time manana waves wash the rocks push pull push pull as rain on a thousand leaves warm water from the showerhead washes grime from the streets down the drain from plump peachy legs washes it away away away Wash away the stink of the barrio, carniceria, Pollo Rey.
Bani
One severe storm event can cause unprotected roads to wash away in a matter of a few hours, sometimes less.
Private forests: commonsense erosion control
Bad weather could make it impossible to cross the short expanse of sea, and increasing sea levels could wash away the quays.
Tide threatens wildlife haven
With the new technique, the researchers can use water-soluble polymers, such as poly(ethylene oxide), which remain intact when organic solvents wash away the wax porogen, Ma says.
Foamy polymers hit goal right on the nose