draw away from (someone or something)

1. To move back and away from someone or something. I hugged my parents for as long as I could before the train whistle blew and we drew away from each other. As soon as I heard the buzzing bees, I drew away from the flowers. After several kisses, I drew away from my boyfriend, and we went our separate ways to class.

2. To move someone or something back away from someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "away." I drew my toddler away from the cat when I saw how vigorously she was petting it. I drew the gauze away from the patient's wound to check how it was healing. We were all relieved when the obnoxious man's friends drew him away from us.

3. To pass and move increasingly ahead of a competitor, as in a race. I knew I had a chance to win the race when I drew away from the fastest girl in the heat. That horse took off like a shot and quickly drew away from all of the others. None of us had a chance once Mona drew away from us on that final straightaway.

4. To take the focus of a situation away from someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "away." I can't believe my own sister got engaged a week before my wedding, totally drawing the attention away from me! Let's tell them our good news later. I don't want to draw the focus away from your brother on his graduation day. You don't show up to a birthday party looking that hot unless you want to draw attention away from the birthday girl.