1 B1 neutral
To put something in a safe, hidden, or out-of-the-way place.
"She tucked the letter away in her desk drawer so no one else would find it."
separable
tuck away
B1 informal separable transitive
To put something in a hidden, safe, or out-of-the-way place; also used of places that are remote or hard to find, and informally of eating heartily.
In plain English
To put something somewhere safe and out of sight, or to describe a place that is hidden and hard to find.
What does "tuck away" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
Used to describe a place that is located in a quiet, hidden, or remote spot (usually in the passive).
"The restaurant was tucked away down a narrow alley behind the cathedral."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To save money in a secure place, usually over time.
"Over the years, he had managed to tuck away enough for a comfortable retirement."
separable
4 B2 idiomatic informal
British informal: to eat a large amount of food with obvious enjoyment.
"The kids tucked away three helpings of pasta before anyone else had finished their first."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fold or push something into a tight, enclosed space.
Actually means
To put something somewhere safe and out of sight, or to describe a place that is hidden and hard to find.
Usage tip
Has three common uses: (1) storing or hiding something in a safe place, (2) describing a location that is hidden or remote (often in the passive: 'tucked away in the hills'), and (3) British informal meaning to eat food enthusiastically. All three uses are common in everyday British and general English.
Words that pair with "tuck away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money savings village cottage note food
How to conjugate "tuck away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tuck away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tucks away
he/she/it
Past simple
tucked away
yesterday
Past participle
tucked away
have + pp
-ing form
tucking away
continuous
Hear "tuck away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tuck away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "tuck away"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.