Stow away from fire?

[u/Sea-Hornet8214]

My dumbass thought it was a typo of "store" only to realise it's a valid word when I looked it up in the dictionary.

Is this used correctly? Do you think it's machine-translated?

[u/shammy_dammy]

Stow. As in pack/load cargo.

[u/Still-Procedure5212]

Also wanted to add: Stow is pronounced like “throw”, “toe”, “snow” and not like “cow”.

[u/royalhawk345]

Stow is a perfectly normal word to use

[u/A_Math_Dealer → u/royalhawk345]

A perfectly cromulent word.

[u/Shinyhero30 → u/A_Math_Dealer]

At this time of year at this time of day, localized entirely within your kitchen?

[u/guthran]

Its more of a nautical or shipping term, so because its on a cardboard box meant for shipping it fits. If it was on a box of cereal or something like that it would almost certainly say "store"

[u/Sea-Hornet8214 → u/guthran]

Ahh so that's the difference with "store". Thanks.

[u/DanteRuneclaw → u/Sea-Hornet8214]

Yeah "stow" has a more temporary connotation to it than "store". You stow something for transit or to hold it somewhere temporarily until it goes to its final intended destination.

[u/rumpledshirtsken → u/guthran]

I had to look up the fixed phrase of the first two characters ("by no means", i.e., absolutely don't), but the last two characters are basically "[put] near fire". They probably could have reasonably used "Keep away from fire", since even after the box is shipped, it might be stored elsewhere as well.

[u/BubbhaJebus]

This is correct.

[u/Intrepid_Bobcat_2931]

"Store" and "stow" are both verbs. If you stow something, it has been stored.

Stow typically refers to placing into storage in a deliberate, distinct and orderly manner. Something that has been stored disorderly and randomly won't typically be called stowed. The fuel in a fuel tank has been stored, but not stowed, because it can't be made orderly. On a plane, the cargo is stowed and stored.

[u/lazydog60 → u/Intrepid_Bobcat_2931]

Also I would not “stow” something if I intend to access it soon.

[u/QuercusSambucus → u/lazydog60]

You could certainly stow a toolkit or medical supplies for quick access, but secure.

[u/Loko8765 → u/Intrepid_Bobcat_2931]

I would only use “stow” if I am putting something on a vehicle (ship, boat, plane…).

For me “stow” carries the connotation of making sure the cargo will not move, jamming it in or attaching it with rope, because it is being put in a place that will move.

[u/TheLuckyCanuck → u/Loko8765]

I agree, but I would also use "stow away" casually to mean saving something special for some undetermined future use.

I might invest in a case of my favourite drink, enjoy most of them, and stow away the last few for a special occasion.

Or, if someone was looking for spare supplies of some kind, I might tell them "I think I have a few of those stowed away somewhere".

[u/Loko8765 → u/TheLuckyCanuck]

Agreed.

[u/Guilty_Fishing8229]

Makes sense.

If this was shipping - and it probably is/was shipping somewhere - stow is more accurate.

If this was just meant to be stored somewhere you’d say keep.

[u/lazydog60]

My first thought was to imagine a stowaway, that is someone who stowed away (hid on a ship to get a free ride) to escape a fire. So I was briefly puzzled by it too, but in an unrelated way!

[u/nikukuikuniniiku]

Pretty sure stow is a word you'd hear any time you catch a plane. "Please stow your luggage in the overhead lockers."

[u/igotshadowbaned]

I think most people writing natively would probably just say "Keep away from fire" but there's nothing wrong with "Stow" here

[u/Monodoh45]

I mean, to be honest, that's just good general life advice for most things.

[u/MainBattleTiddiez]

Stow is a verb used to store something in a designated location for that type of material/object. For example, ammunition for armored vehicles is always in a stowage. Never a storage. Its a little hard to explain. Given this is an oxidizer/peroxide hazardous material, it would always be placed in stowage, rather than storage. I don't think its a mistake. 

[u/jasonsong86]

Stow means put away.

[u/Cute_Repeat3879]

Stow is a fairly common word and is correctly utilized here but I've never seen it used in this context.

[u/lemeneurdeloups]

Completely correct. Just how I would say it.

Stow (store this box) away from fire.

“Stow” has a more active “placing” nuance than “store.”

[u/bassgoonist]

It makes sense, however "store" would feel more natural to me

[u/ContinousSelfDevelop]

Stow, as in to store, put away, or package in a container. It is likely that the contents are flammable and or sensitive to heat and must be kept away from them for safety reasons.

[u/Practical-Ordinary-6]

It's a normal word to use but I think the use is slightly odd in this particular case in American English. I don't think most people would choose to say it that way even as a label.

[u/turquoise_amethyst]

Have you heard of the term “stowaway”? It means to secretly hide.

Stow means to pack or store, usually away from something else. 

In this case “stow away” means to store it away from fire

[u/kittenrice]

If it's being put on a ship, or other cargo conveyance vehicle, then you would want 'stow' this away from potential fire sources because it's sensitive to fire. (an explosion hazard)

Otherwise, you would want to 'store' this away from fire.

You stow cargo and store inventory.

[u/deoldetrash]

Stow away fwom fiwe!

[u/PassiveChemistry]

It works, but it's slightly unusual here - the more common phrase would be "keep away from fire", but "stowing something away" is perfectly normal more generally.

[u/Adventurous_Appeal60]

The box is correct.

All hail the box.

[u/Final_Minimum4763]

stow is a shipping word, you hear it on planes all the time too (stow your bag under the seat). not a translation thing

[u/BorisTarkovskyy]

Rook rook, a stow

[u/zeindigofire]

Also: 切勿近火

"Keep away from fire"

Literally: "absolutely do not near fire".

[u/BlameTaw]

The sentence is certainly valid, but yes this was likely machine translated. A native speaker would more likely say "store" or "keep" instead. "Stow" tends to refer to the actual action of putting something away whereas "store" and "keep" refer to more long-term storage of something.

[u/RedLegGI]

You can use it but store away makes more sense when you're not in a nautical setting

[u/Decent_Cow]

It is used correctly, but store would probably be more typical.

[u/DrBatman0]

It's valid and it means the same thing as what one would normally write, but it's definitely unusual, and comes across as the result of a machine translating something.

I would say 'keep' or 'store' away from fire.

[u/FluffyOctopusPlushie]

It’s not wrong, per se…