"stay at home" and "stay home"?

What's the difference between "stay at home" and "stay home"?
So confusing...

I don't think there is a difference. ;-)

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Originally Posted by Red5

I don't think there is a difference. ;-)

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So you mean we can use these two expressions whenever we like?
No matter in what kind of context?
Sentences from one version of the textbooks of senior high school in Taiwan:
-->My brother was told to stay home last night, but he went to the movies.
-->My brother should have stayed at home last night.
The word "at" in the second sentence is regarded as a wrong expression and is deleted in the revised version.
From your point of view, "stay at home" and "stay home" have no difference.
Thus, I can infer that the revision is not necessary.
Either expression is acceptable.
Is this what you mean?
No usage preference in a certain context for either expression?
Thanks for your patience.

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-->My brother was told to stay home last night, but he went to the movies.
-->My brother should have stayed at home last night.

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In the second sentence, you can delete the at and the sentence will mean the same thing. Both are used. BTW, a "stay at home" is somebody who doesn't like to go out much.

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Originally Posted by RonBee

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-->My brother was told to stay home last night, but he went to the movies.
-->My brother should have stayed at home last night.

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In the second sentence, you can delete the at and the sentence will mean the same thing. Both are used. BTW, a "stay at home" is somebody who doesn't like to go out much.

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Which would you prefer, 'she is a stay-at-home mom' or 'she is a stay-home mom?' The first one? Thanks, BMO

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Originally Posted by RonBee

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-->My brother was told to stay home last night, but he went to the movies.
-->My brother should have stayed at home last night.

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In the second sentence, you can delete the at and the sentence will mean the same thing. Both are used. BTW, a "stay at home" is somebody who doesn't like to go out much.

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Therefore, there is still "different" connotation for each of the two expressions.
"Stay at home" has something to do with the "willingness" of a person,
while "stay home" only means the condition of a person.
However, without considering the connotation, the expression with at and without at are all fine and acceptable sentences.

Missing out the preposition is not very common in British English. ;-)

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Originally Posted by bmo

Which would you prefer, 'she is a stay-at-home mom' or 'she is a stay-home mom?' The first one?

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I would say she is a stay-at-home mom.

I think it's a difference between BE and AE. In BE we use the preposition. I've only ever heard AE speakers use the expression without the preposition.
In BE we say: I stayed at home last night. I usually stay at school for lunch. I stayed at work late last night. I stayed at a hotel when I was in Brighton. We use a preposition (not always 'at') with the verb stay.

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Originally Posted by Lib

I think it's a difference between BE and AE. In BE we use the preposition. I've only ever heard AE speakers use the expression without the preposition.

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Interesting. I would say (for example), "I am going to stay home tonight."

Fascinating.

:)