Grammar fix
squirrel away
save secretly
To save money gradually and keep it somewhere safe for future use.
phrasal verb
How oftenNow and then
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
She’s been squirrelling away money for a deposit on a flat.
My parents always told me to squirrel away a bit of money each month, even when my salary was quite low.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I'm squirrelling up money for a holiday.
Say: I'm squirrelling away money for a holiday.
The fixed particle is 'away', not 'up'; the spelling 'squirrelling' follows British English conventions.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Save money for later
How formalPlayfulNeutral
squirrel awayYou're here · Playful: gradually save money somewhere safe, sometimes privately.
put asideKeep some money available for a future need.set asideReserve money for a particular purpose or expense.