escape

Everyday

1. To escape means to get away from a place where you are kept, or from danger. tree →
2. To escape something means to avoid it: escape the rain. tree →
3. Gas, water or air escapes when it leaks out. tree →
4. An escape is the act of getting away, or a way out: a fire escape. tree →
5. On a computer keyboard, Escape (Esc) is a key that cancels. tree →

In the lessons

In fire safety lessons families plan an escape route: know two ways out, crawl low under smoke, get out, stay out and call for help; a fire escape is a special staircase or exit. In stories an escape is an exciting moment (escape from the castle). In science gases escape from containers if they are not sealed. Phrases: escape route, fire escape, a narrow escape, escape from, escape the heat, no escape.

Examples

• We practised our fire escape plan at home. tree →
• The hamster escaped from its cage. tree →
• The prisoners tried to escape over the wall. tree →
• We had a narrow escape when the branch fell just behind us. tree →
• Gas can escape from a leaking pipe; if you smell it, tell an adult. tree →
• We went to the beach to escape the heat. tree →
• Use the fire escape if the stairs are full of smoke. tree →
• Press Escape to close the window on the screen. tree →
• This time there was no escape. tree →

Note

Regular verb: escaped (drop the «e» for escaping). «Escape from a place», «escape (from) danger». Not «excape». In a fire, escaping comes first: never go back inside for toys or pets.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah escape often means fleeing danger, and a slave who escapes to Israel must not be handed back. In the Prophets and Psalms it means getting away from enemies, from a trap or from Babylon.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the law of the escaped slave as protecting a refugee, and Lot's escape to Zoar is taken as a sign of God's mercy. The prophets call the exiles to escape from Babylon, and the psalmist asks that the wicked fall into their own nets, a picture of enemies caught by their own traps.

Examples

• Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a bondman that is escaped from his master unto thee; (Torah DEU.23.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he said: 'If Esau come to the one camp, and smite it, then the camp which is left shall escape.' (Torah GEN.32.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hasten thou, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.' — Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. — (Torah GEN.19.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ho, Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.' (Prophets ZEC.2.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I withal escape. (Writings PSA.141.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Ehud escaped while they lingered, having passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah. (Prophets JDG.3.26, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: escaped (drop the «e» for escaping). «Escape from a place», «escape (from) danger». Not «excape». In a fire, escaping comes first: never go back inside for toys or pets.