What Does “Balance sth out” Mean?
“Balance sth out” means to make two or more things equal or fair by adjusting or compensating for differences.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “balance sth out” is commonly used in English to describe the action of making different elements equal or more fair. It often involves adjusting one thing to compensate for another, helping to create harmony or stability. For example, you might balance out the sweetness of a dish with some sour ingredients, or balance out your work and leisure time to avoid stress. Understanding the balance sth out meaning helps improve both your speaking and writing skills, as it is useful in everyday conversations and formal contexts. This guide will explain how to use this phrase naturally, with examples and tips to avoid common mistakes.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: balance something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to make things equal or fair by adjusting
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Balance sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can put the object between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- balance something out (correct) — e.g., balance the flavors out
- balance out something (correct) — e.g., balance out the costs
Both forms are acceptable, but placing the object between “balance” and “out” is more common.
How to Use “Balance sth out”?
Use “balance sth out” when you want to describe making things more equal or fair by adjusting one or more factors. It is often used in contexts like food, emotions, work-life, finances, or colors.
Common patterns include:
- Balance something out (e.g., balance the cost out)
- Balance out something (e.g., balance out the differences)
It usually requires a direct object (something you are balancing).
Examples
- She added lemon juice to balance the sweetness out in the recipe.
- It’s important to balance out work and relaxation to stay healthy.
- The company tried to balance out the expenses with increased sales.
- He wore a bright tie to balance out the dark suit.
- Balance sth out in a sentence: The teacher balanced out the difficult questions with easier ones.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I balance out the homework.
Correct: I balance the homework out. - Incorrect: She balance out the situation.
Correct: She balances the situation out. - Incorrect: Balance out is used without an object.
Correct: Balance sth out always needs an object.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Make up for: To compensate for something missing or lost. Example: He made up for lost time.
- Even out: To make something level or equal, often used with surfaces or amounts. Example: The workers evened out the ground.
- Offset: To balance one thing by having an opposite effect. Example: The profits offset the losses.
Balance sth out specifically implies adjustment to create fairness or equality, often between two or more elements.
Common Collocations
- balance out the flavors
- balance out the costs
- balance out the workload
- balance out the colors
- balance out the risks
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: The salad tastes too sour. What can I do?
John: Try adding some honey to balance it out.
Anna: Good idea! I want the flavors to be even.
John: Exactly, balancing the flavors out makes the dish better.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) She balances out the budget every month.
- b) She balances the budget out every month.
- c) She balance out the budget every month.
Answer: b) She balances the budget out every month.
FAQs
- Q: Can I use “balance sth out” without an object?
A: No, “balance sth out” always needs an object. - Q: Is “balance out sth” correct?
A: Yes, but less common than “balance sth out.” - Q: What is the difference between “balance sth out” and “make up for”?
A: “Balance sth out” means making things equal by adjusting, while “make up for” means compensating for a loss or mistake. - Q: Can I use “balance sth out” in formal writing?
A: Yes, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. - Q: What kind of things can I balance out?
A: You can balance out flavors, costs, workload, emotions, colors, and more.
