Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: whisk
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
One word substitute questions check whether you know precise verbs and nouns that replace longer descriptive phrases. The phrase here is "to take someone somewhere suddenly and quickly". In English, there is a specific verb that captures this idea, often used in expressions like "whisk someone away". It combines the sense of speed with a certain lightness or suddenness in movement.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key features of the phrase are: taking a person, moving them from one place to another, and doing so quickly and suddenly. The verb "whisk" in this context means to take or move someone or something quickly and often secretly or unexpectedly, as in "The bodyguards whisked the minister away" or "He whisked her off to Paris for the weekend". Other verbs like "rush" or "fly" indicate speed but are not as commonly used with a direct object in this exact sense. "Escort" suggests formal accompaniment, often slowly and respectfully, which conflicts with the suddenness implied.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look for a verb that collocates naturally with "someone away" or "someone off".
Step 2: "Whisk" is commonly used in phrases like "whisk someone away", meaning to take them somewhere quickly and often unexpectedly.
Step 3: "Rush" usually means to move quickly but is more often used without a direct object ("He rushed to the station") or with things ("rush an order"), and it lacks the nuance of whisking someone away.
Step 4: "Fly" can be used figuratively but typically means to travel by air or move quickly yourself; "fly someone somewhere" is possible but does not capture the idea of sudden removal.
Step 5: "Flit" means to move lightly and quickly, but it is usually intransitive ("butterflies flit from flower to flower") and not used in standard English as "flit someone away".
Step 6: "Escort" means to accompany, often for protection or ceremony, and can even be slow and formal, which is very different from sudden and quick removal.
Step 7: Therefore, "whisk" is the only option that naturally matches the phrase in meaning and usage.
Verification / Alternative check:
Consider example sentences: "The security team whisked the celebrity away from the crowd" or "He whisked her off to a surprise dinner". Replacing "whisked" with "rushed", "flew", "flitted", or "escorted" changes the tone or makes the sentence unidiomatic. This confirms that "whisk" is the precise one word substitute intended by the question.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Rush" focuses on speed but not on taking someone away suddenly in an idiomatic way. "Fly" mainly refers to air travel or self movement. "Flit" is intransitive and usually relates to light, quick movements of small objects or creatures. "Escort" stresses formality and protection rather than sudden, quick removal. Hence none of these options fully capture the phrase "to take someone somewhere suddenly and quickly".
Common Pitfalls:
Students often select a verb simply because it indicates speed, like "rush", without checking whether it is used in the particular pattern described. Collocations, that is, common word pairings, are very important in English. Learning verbs along with the typical phrases they occur in ("whisk someone away", "rush to work", "escort a guest") helps you choose more accurately in such questions.
Final Answer:
The best one word substitute for the given phrase is whisk.
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