What Does โBlock sth outโ Mean?
โBlock sth outโ means to stop yourself from thinking about or noticing something unpleasant, or to cover or prevent something from being seen or heard.
Introduction
The phrase โblock sth outโ is a common phrasal verb in English. It is often used when someone wants to avoid thinking about bad memories or distractions. The block sth out meaning can also refer to physically covering something, like blocking out light or noise. This phrase is useful in both emotional and practical contexts. Understanding how to use โblock sth outโ helps you express ideas about ignoring feelings or controlling your environment. In everyday English, you might hear it when people talk about forgetting painful experiences or preventing disturbances.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: block sth out โ block something out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Meaning: To stop yourself from thinking about something or to cover/prevent something from being seen/heard
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBlock sth outโ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the object can come between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- block something out
- block sth out
- block out something
Examples:
- She blocked the noise out.
- She blocked out the noise.
- She blocked it out.
How to Use โBlock sth outโ?
You use โblock sth outโ when you want to talk about ignoring or forgetting unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or memories. It can also mean physically stopping something from entering your senses, like light or sound. This phrasal verb is often used in emotional contexts, such as dealing with trauma, or in practical situations, such as using curtains to block out sunlight.
Examples
- After the accident, he tried to block out the painful memories.
- I close my eyes to block out the bright light.
- She blocked out the noise from the construction site while studying.
- He blocked the negative comments out and focused on his work.
- We used blackout curtains to block out the sun during the day.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I block out the noise it.
- Correct: I block it out.
- Incorrect: She blocked out to the bad memories.
- Correct: She blocked out the bad memories.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include โshut outโ and โtune out.โ However, โblock sth outโ often implies an active effort to ignore or forget something unpleasant or to physically cover something.
- Shut out: Usually means to prevent someone from entering or to ignore feelings.
- Tune out: Means to stop paying attention, especially to sounds or distractions.
- Block sth out: Emphasizes both mental and physical blocking, often with an emotional focus.
Common Collocations
- block out noise
- block out light
- block out memories
- block out distractions
- block out negative thoughts
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of block sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I canโt stop thinking about the argument we had.
John: Maybe you should try to block it out for a while and focus on something else.
Anna: Thatโs a good idea. Iโll try to block out those thoughts and relax.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โblock sth outโ:
- She tried to ________ the loud noise while studying.
- He wants to ________ the bad memories from his mind.
- We used heavy curtains to ________ the sunlight.
FAQs
- Q: Can โblock sth outโ be used for both mental and physical blocking?
A: Yes, it can mean ignoring thoughts or covering something physically. - Q: Is โblock sth outโ separable?
A: Yes, you can place the object between โblockโ and โoutโ or after โout.โ - Q: What is a common mistake when using โblock sth outโ?
A: Incorrect word order, such as placing the object in the wrong position. - Q: Can I use โblock sth outโ with any object?
A: Usually with things like noise, light, memories, or distractions. - Q: How does โblock sth outโ differ from โtune outโ?
A: โBlock sth outโ often involves active effort, while โtune outโ is more passive ignoring.
