An archaic or dialectal expression meaning to be unable to tolerate or endure something.
To really not like something and not be able to put up with it at all.
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
(Archaic/dialectal) To be unable to tolerate or put up with something.
"He could not away with the noise of the city and longed for the quiet countryside."
I cannot away with him.
— William Shakespeare, Henry IV Part 2, Act 3, Scene 2, c. 1599
Archaic and now almost entirely obsolete in standard modern English. Occasionally found in older literary texts. Some limited survival in British dialects. Learners should note this for reading comprehension of older texts; active use is not recommended.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "cannot away with" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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