drive back
A2 neutral separable both
In simple words
Drive back to where you came from, or push someone away so they go back where they started.
Literal meaning: To use a vehicle to travel back to a starting point.
Meanings
1 A2 neutral
To return to a place by driving a vehicle.
"After the concert, they drove back to the hotel in silence."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To force an enemy, attacker, or opposing group to retreat.
"Allied forces drove the enemy back beyond the river."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The literal sense (returning by car) is extremely common. The military/figurative sense (forcing retreat) is used in formal writing, news, and historical contexts.
Commonly used with
enemy troops car home border crowd forces
Forms
Base
drive back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drives back
he/she/it
Past simple
drove back
yesterday
Past participle
driven back
have + pp
-ing form
driving back
continuous
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Synonyms
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