Meaning & use
squirreling away
Last updated
“squirreling away” is a form of “squirrel away”.
Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
The act of saving something secretly or gradually, especially money or supplies, for future use.
Grammar: This is the -ing form of the phrasal verb 'squirrel away', used as a noun or in progressive tenses.
Patterns
- squirreling away something
- squirreling something away
She has been squirreling away a portion of her salary every month for years.
The company was accused of squirreling away profits in offshore accounts.
He spent the afternoon squirreling away canned goods in the basement.
verbtransitive
Present participle of 'squirrel away': to put something in a safe or hidden place for later.
Grammar: Used after forms of 'be' or as a gerund: They are squirreling away supplies.
Patterns
- be squirreling away something
- be squirreling something away
The children are squirreling away their Halloween candy in their rooms.
She was squirreling away important documents in a locked drawer.
Word forms
| base form | squirrel away |
|---|---|
| third person singular | squirrels away |
| past tense | squirreled away |
| past participle | squirreled away |
| -ing form | squirreling away |
Common combinations
- squirreling away money
- He's been squirreling away money for a down payment on a house.
- squirreling away supplies
- The hikers were squirreling away supplies for the long winter.
- squirreling away for a rainy day
- My grandmother believed in squirreling away for a rainy day.
- squirreling away in a secret account
- The treasurer was caught squirreling away funds in a secret account.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hoarding
- Hoarding suggests collecting and hiding large amounts, often excessively, while squirreling away is more neutral and implies careful saving.
- stashing
- Stashing means hiding something quickly or temporarily; squirreling away implies a gradual, deliberate process of saving.
- saving
- Saving is the general term for keeping money or resources; squirreling away adds a sense of secrecy or hiding.
Opposites
Word family
- squirrel noun
- A small rodent that stores nuts for winter.
- squirrelly adjective
- Behaving in a nervous or unpredictable way, like a squirrel.
Commonly confused: squirreling away or squirting away?
squirreling away vs squirting away
Squirting means ejecting liquid in a thin stream; squirreling away means saving or hiding.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'squirreling away' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'squirreling away' means saving or storing something for future use, so 'money for a new car' fits. The other options use objects that are not typically saved or hidden (fears, decorations, homework).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “squirreling away”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.