wash someone 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 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
- 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