What Does “Buy sb out of sth” Mean?
“Buy sb out of sth” means to pay someone money to take their share or interest in something, usually a business or agreement, so they no longer have involvement.
Introduction
The phrase “buy sb out of sth” is commonly used in business and legal contexts. It describes the action when one person pays another to gain full control or ownership of something, such as a company, property, or contract. The “sb” stands for somebody, and “sth” means something. Understanding the “buy sb out of sth meaning” helps learners recognize when someone is removing another person’s stake by purchasing it. This expression is useful not only in business but also in everyday situations where ownership or responsibility is transferred through payment.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: buy somebody out of something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: Pay someone to take their share or responsibility away
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Buy sb out of sth” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (someone) between “buy” and “out,” or after “out of.”
- buy somebody out of something
- buy out somebody of something
Examples:
- They bought him out of the company.
- They bought out him of his shares.
However, the first form is more common and natural.
How to Use “Buy sb out of sth”?
Use this phrasal verb when describing a situation where one person or group wants to gain full control or ownership by paying another person to give up their part. It often appears in business deals, partnerships, or contracts.
You can use it in past, present, and future tenses:
- Past: She bought him out of the business last year.
- Present: We are trying to buy our partner out of the project.
- Future: They will buy him out of the agreement soon.
Examples
- The company decided to buy their partner out of the contract.
- After disagreements, he was bought out of the business by his co-founder.
- They offered to buy me out of my share in the property.
- We want to buy her out of the investment before she leaves the country.
- Buying him out of the partnership was the best solution for everyone.
These examples show “buy sb out of sth in a sentence” used in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I bought out from him the company.
Correct: I bought him out of the company. - Incorrect: They buy out the company from her.
Correct: They bought her out of the company. - Incorrect: He bought out the business.
Correct: He bought his partner out of the business.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Buy out — To purchase all shares or rights from someone, often without specifying “sb” and “sth.”
- Buy off — To pay someone to stop them from acting against you, often with a negative connotation.
- Buy up — To purchase a large amount or all of something available.
Buy sb out of sth specifically means paying a particular person to give up their share or responsibility. It is more personal and focused on ownership transfer.
Common Collocations
- buy someone out of a business
- buy a partner out of a company
- buy a shareholder out of shares
- buy someone out of a contract
- buy someone out of a property
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of buy sb out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I heard you bought your partner out of the company. How did that go?
Ben: It was simple. I paid him a fair amount to buy him out of the business.
Anna: So now you’re the only owner?
Ben: Yes, I have full control now.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) She bought out her friend of the project.
- B) She bought her friend out of the project.
- C) She bought out of her friend the project.
Answer: B) She bought her friend out of the project.
FAQs
- Q: Can “buy sb out of sth” be used outside business?
A: Yes, it can be used in any situation involving buying someone’s share or responsibility. - Q: Is “buy sb out of sth” formal?
A: It is mostly used in formal or business contexts but can appear in everyday speech. - Q: Can I say “buy out sb of sth”?
A: Yes, but “buy sb out of sth” is more common and natural. - Q: What’s the difference between “buy sb out” and “buy sb off”?
A: “Buy sb out” means to pay for someone’s share; “buy sb off” means to bribe someone. - Q: Does “buy sb out of sth” always involve money?
A: Yes, it implies paying money to take over someone’s share.
