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I saw this in a book called The Garden Party:

Away she skimmed, over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch.

Can someone explain this phrase in simple English?

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    It's a metaphoric reference. Effectively, the way she moved away gave the appearance of her "floating" across the grass and up the path (only gently / briefly touching the ground the way a skimmed stone briefly touches the water surface). Oct 3, 2019 at 12:48

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From Merriam-Webster's definition of the verb skim:

5 : to pass swiftly or lightly over

And from its definition of the adverb along:

1 : on the way : ALONG


In short:

[Along the way (to the house)], she [passed swiftly and lightly] over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch.

Or, to phrase it more naturally:

Away she went, without disturbance, swiftly over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch.

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