What Does “Buy sb out” Mean?
“Buy sb out” means to purchase someone’s share or interest in a business or agreement, giving them full control or ownership.
Introduction
The phrase “buy sb out” is often used in business and legal contexts. It refers to the act of one person or company purchasing another person’s stake in a partnership or business. This is done so the buyer gains full control or ownership, while the seller exits the arrangement. Understanding the buy sb out meaning helps learners communicate clearly in financial or personal situations when one party wants to leave and another wants to take over. This phrase is common in English-speaking countries and is useful in both formal and informal conversations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: buy sb out → buy somebody out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To purchase someone’s share or rights in something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Buy sb out” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (someone) between “buy” and “out” or after “out.”
- Pattern 1: buy + somebody + out
Example: They decided to buy him out of the company. - Pattern 2: buy + out + somebody
Example: They bought out their partner last year.
How to Use “Buy sb out”?
You use “buy sb out” when talking about one person or group purchasing another’s share in a business, contract, or agreement. It often implies transferring ownership or ending a partnership. It is commonly used in business deals, real estate, and sometimes in casual agreements between friends or family.
Use it with a person or entity as the object (e.g., buy someone out). It usually involves money and legal agreements.
Examples
- After years of working together, Sarah decided to buy John out of their startup.
- The company bought out the smaller competitor to expand its market share.
- He was happy when his business partner agreed to be bought out.
- Buy sb out in a sentence: The investors bought out the founder’s shares last month.
- They bought out their landlord to own the building outright.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They bought out him in the deal.
Correct: They bought him out in the deal. - Incorrect: She buyed out her partner.
Correct: She bought out her partner. - Incorrect: We buy out the company last week.
Correct: We bought out the company last week.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include buy someone off and buy out. However, there are differences:
- Buy sb out: Purchase someone’s share or rights to gain control.
- Buy someone off: Pay someone to stop them from doing something, often illegal or unethical.
- Buy out: Can mean purchasing an entire company or agreement, often without specifying a person.
Remember, “buy sb out” focuses on buying a specific person’s part, while “buy someone off” usually has a negative or secretive meaning.
Common Collocations
- Buy a partner out
- Buy a shareholder out
- Buy a business out
- Buy the owner out
- Buy out a contract
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of buy sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I heard you’re leaving the company. What happened?
Mark: Yes, my partner decided to buy me out. He wants full control now.
Anna: So, he paid you for your shares?
Mark: Exactly. It was a fair deal, and I’m moving on to new projects.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “buy sb out”:
- The entrepreneur decided to ________ his partner ________ to own the entire company.
- They ________ the landlord ________ to stop paying rent.
FAQs
- What does “buy sb out” mean?
It means to purchase someone’s share or interest in a business or deal. - Is “buy sb out” formal or informal?
It is commonly used in formal business settings but can appear in informal conversations too. - Can I say “buy out someone”?
Yes, “buy out someone” is grammatically correct and means the same as “buy someone out.” - What is the difference between “buy sb out” and “buy someone off”?
“Buy sb out” means purchasing shares; “buy someone off” means paying someone to stop an action, often unethical. - Can “buy sb out” be used in personal relationships?
It is mostly used in business but can be used metaphorically in personal agreements involving money or ownership.
