Allude vs elude
Allude means to mention something indirectly, without naming it, and is usually followed by to. Elude means to escape from or avoid someone or something.
Elude starts with E, like escape.
allude verb
To talk about something in a hidden way, without saying it directly.
- In his speech, the senator alluded to recent scandals without naming anyone involved.
- She alluded to a problem at work but would not say more.
elude verb
To escape from or avoid someone or something, often by being clever or quick.
- Smugglers learned to elude the coast guard by sailing on moonless nights.
- The thief eluded the police for three weeks.
Watch out
- Elude can also mean that something escapes your mind or your understanding. Here the thing you cannot grasp is the subject.The names of my old classmates elude me, though I can still picture their faces.
Test yourself
The fox managed to blank the hunters by hiding in the river.
Show answer
elude. The fox escapes the hunters, so elude.
In her letter, she seemed to blank to an old argument.
Show answer
allude. She mentions the argument indirectly, and allude is followed by to.
The author likes to blank to famous poems without quoting them.
Show answer
allude. The author refers to the poems indirectly, without quoting them, so allude.
The suspect tried to blank capture by leaving the country.
Show answer
elude. He is trying to avoid being caught, so elude.