What Does โBear sb outโ Mean?
โBear sb outโ means to support or confirm what someone says, proving that their statement or claim is true.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โbear sb outโ is used when someoneโs words or opinions are confirmed by evidence or another personโs experience. It is often used in conversations and writing to show that an idea or statement is true because someone else agrees or facts support it. Understanding the bear sb out meaning helps English learners use it confidently in both formal and informal contexts. This phrase is especially useful when you want to emphasize that your information is reliable, thanks to someone elseโs confirmation.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: bear somebody out (bear sb out)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to support or confirm what someone says
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBear sb outโ is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it always takes a direct object (somebody).
- Subject + bear + somebody + out
- Example: The evidence bears him out.
This phrasal verb is inseparable; you cannot place the object between โbearโ and โout.โ
Correct: She bears me out on that point. Incorrect: She bears out me on that point.
How to Use โBear sb outโ?
You use โbear sb outโ when you talk about someoneโs statement or opinion being confirmed by another person or evidence. It often appears in formal or semi-formal speech and writing, such as reports, news, or discussions. It emphasizes that the claim made by someone is true because it is supported by facts or witnesses.
It is commonly followed by the person or thing that supports the statement, for example, โThe facts bear her out,โ or โSeveral witnesses bore him out.โ
Examples
- The witnesses bore him out during the trial.
- Her research bears her out and proves the theory is correct.
- Several experts bore him out when he explained the new method.
- The data bears out the scientistโs predictions.
- Bear sb out in a sentence: The results of the experiment bear the scientist out.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: The facts bear out him.
Correct: The facts bear him out. - Incorrect: She bears out me on this.
Correct: She bears me out on this. - Incorrect: They bear me out the evidence.
Correct: They bear me out with the evidence.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Back sb up: To support someone, often in an argument. It is more informal and can mean giving help, not just confirming facts.
- Confirm: To state that something is true, often used in formal contexts but not a phrasal verb.
- Corroborate: A formal word meaning to support with evidence, similar to โbear sb out.โ
Difference: โBear sb outโ specifically means proving or confirming a statement or opinion, while โback sb upโ can mean support in various ways, including emotionally or physically.
Common Collocations
- Bear the witness out
- Bear the statement out
- Bear the evidence out
- Bear the claim out
- Bear the report out
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of bear sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I told you the new policy would improve sales.
Ben: Yes, the recent numbers bear you out. Sales have definitely increased.
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
โThe eyewitnesses _______ the suspectโs story during the trial.โ
- a) bear out
- b) bear in
- c) bear up
Answer: a) bear out
FAQs
- What does โbear sb outโ mean?
It means to support or confirm what someone says. - Is โbear sb outโ formal or informal?
It is generally used in formal or semi-formal contexts. - Can I say โbear out sbโ?
No, the object must come between โbearโ and โout.โ - What is a synonym for โbear sb outโ?
โCorroborateโ or โback sb upโ (though โback upโ is less formal). - Is โbear sb outโ separable?
No, it is inseparable; the object always stays between the verb and particle.
