What you type when you're chatting on irc to explain you're away for a while. The effect is rather spectacular:
(input) /away ordering pizza
*** Gabor is away: (ordering pizza) BX-MsgLog On
According to your irc client, your nickname may change colour while you're /away (usually grey). In BitchX, theres a little zZz.
When you're back, just type /away again.
/me is another irc goodie

/away is the place to be: people will wonder: where is he/she? even if you're not going anywhere, you can be /away.