Cool MateDistract vs Give it a rabbit to chase
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Distract
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Give it a rabbit to chase
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: DistractMost common: Distract
| Distract | Give it a rabbit to chase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstrækt/","/dɪˈstrækts/","/dɪˈstræktɪd/","/dɪˈstræktɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstrækt/","/dɪˈstrækts/","/dɪˈstræktɪd/","/dɪˈstræktɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡɪv ɪt ə ˈræbɪt tə tʃeɪs//🇺🇸 //ɡɪv ɪt ə ˈræbɪt tə tʃeɪs// |
| Meaning | To take someone's attention away from something. | Let someone be distracted or entertained by something. |
| Example | You're distracting me from my work. | If she's bored in the meeting, just give her a rabbit to chase! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | easily, momentarily, temporarily, (away) from | give someone a distraction, give it some fun, chase after something, provide a diversion, entertain with games |
| Antonyms | focus, concentrate, engage | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Distract' is not reflexive; do not say 'I distracted myself'., Confusion with 'distracted' as a noun, which is incorrect., Mixing up 'distract' with 'detract', which means to take away value. | Confused with 'give someone a reason to chase'., Using in a formal context where it's inappropriate., Misunderstanding the phrase's meaning; it's not literal. |
| Usage notes | Use when talking about losing focus. Avoid in overly formal contexts or when discussing serious topics where focus is crucial. | This phrase is usually used in informal conversations to suggest providing someone with a distraction. It may not be suitable for formal writing or speeches. |
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Frequently asked questions: Distract vs Give it a rabbit to chase
What's the difference between Distract and Give it a rabbit to chase?
Distract: To take someone's attention away from something. Give it a rabbit to chase: Let someone be distracted or entertained by something.
Which is more formal: Distract and Give it a rabbit to chase?
Distract is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Distract and Give it a rabbit to chase?
Distract is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Distract: You're distracting me from my work. Give it a rabbit to chase: If she's bored in the meeting, just give her a rabbit to chase!
Can I use Distract and Give it a rabbit to chase interchangeably?
Not always. Distract and Give it a rabbit to chase are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.