Stay Away from Rivers and Low-Lying Areas: Flood Safety Warning

Meaning 1：Flood safety warning (Stay away from rivers and low-lying areas)

Stay away from rivers and low-lying areas 🔊

/steɪ əˈweɪ frəm ˈrɪvərz ænd ˌloʊˈlaɪɪŋ ˈɛriəz/

phr.

A safety warning telling people not to go near rivers and places where the ground is low, usually because of the danger of flooding.

Yellow warning sign near riverbank after heavy rain with flowing water

Flood safety warning 🔊

➕

/flʌd ˈseɪfti ˈwɔːrnɪŋ/

phr.

This phrase instructs people to keep a safe distance from rivers and low-lying ground, typically due to the risk of flooding or fast-moving water.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combines 'stay away from' (avoid) with 'rivers and low-lying areas' (flood-prone zones).

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a red sign with a silhouette of a person being swept away near a river – 'Stay away!' to avoid danger.

📖 Example

During the typhoon warning, the radio repeatedly advised residents to stay away from rivers and low-lying areas. 🔊 During the typhoon warning, the radio repeatedly advised residents to stay away from rivers and low-lying areas.

🔗 Collocations

issue a stay-away warning – To officially announce a warning that people should avoid certain areas.

heed the stay-away advisory – To pay attention to and follow the warning about staying away.

stay away from flood zones – To avoid areas that are likely to be flooded.

🔄 Synonyms

keep away from rivers and low ground (phr.) – A synonymous instruction to avoid rivers and low-lying land.

avoid flood-prone areas (phr.) – A directive to stay clear of places that are at risk of flooding.

steer clear of floodwaters (phr.) – To intentionally avoid contact with floodwater.

🚫 Antonyms

approach the riverbank (phr.) – To move closer to the edge of a river, opposite to staying away.

venture into low-lying areas (phr.) – To enter places with low elevation, often dangerous during floods.

ignore safety warnings (phr.) – To disregard official advice, the opposite of heeding the warning.

📖 Cultural Story

Commonly used in flood warnings by meteorological agencies like the U.S. National Weather Service to urge public safety during heavy rain or rising water levels.