3
general::
noun retreating/leaving ADJ. hasty, headlong, rapid I decided to beat a hasty retreat. | humiliating, ignominious, undignified | dignified, orderly, strategic, tactful, tactical I made a tactful retreat before they started arguing. VERB + RETREAT beat, make | lead | order, sound | force/send/throw sb into Eventually the police forced the crowd into retreat. | block, cut off | cover We covered his retreat with bursts of gunfire. PREP. in ~ The enemy was now in retreat. | on the ~ fresh evidence that trade unionism is on the retreat | ~ from He took part in the retreat from Paris. | ~ into her retreat into a fantasy world of her own | ~ to an ignominious retreat to the River Vistula PHRASES be in full retreat On the eastern front the army was in full retreat. | a line of retreat We succeeded in cutting off the enemy's line of retreat. quiet and private place ADJ. favourite, perfect the perfect retreat for a romantic honeymoon | private, secret | peaceful | country, rural designed as a gentleman's country retreat | summer, winter | holiday, weekend VERB + RETREAT turn sth into, use sth as She plans to use it as a winter retreat. | go into He went into retreat at his country home to escape the attention of the media. PREP. ~ for a summer retreat for the rich | ~ from staying here at his secret retreat from life in the busy city private time at a quiet place ADJ. religious, spiritual VERB + RETREAT go on She goes on a spiritual retreat for two weeks every summer., verb ADV. hastily, quickly, rapidly, swiftly | further | back He retreated hastily back to his car. VERB + RETREAT try to | order sb to The army was ordered to retreat. PREP. before They retreated before the Americans. | behind He retreated behind the table. | from, in the face of He retreated in the face of strong opposition. | into He retreated into his own world. | to She retreated from the busy office to her own room.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
Phrase(s): retreat (from something) (to some place)
to withdraw from something to some place. • The army retreated from the battlefield to the safety of the forest. • They retreated to the other side of the river.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs