What Does “buy sth out” Mean?
“Buy sth out” means to purchase someone’s share or interest in something, usually a business or property, so that you own it completely.
Introduction
The phrase buy sth out is commonly used in business and legal contexts. It refers to the action of buying another person’s part in a company, contract, or property. This means one party pays money to the other to gain full ownership or control. Understanding the buy sth out meaning is helpful for learners who want to talk about ownership changes or investments. It’s a useful phrasal verb for describing financial transactions where one partner wants to take over completely.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: buy sth out (buy something out)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To purchase someone’s share or interest fully
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb “buy sth out” is separable. You can place the object between “buy” and “out” or after “out.” Here are the common patterns:
- buy + something + out (e.g., buy her out)
- buy out + something (e.g., buy out her share)
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.
How to Use buy sth out?
Use “buy sth out” when talking about taking full ownership by purchasing someone else’s part. It often appears in business deals, property agreements, or investments. You can use it in past, present, and future tenses:
- She bought him out of the company last year.
- They are planning to buy out their partner’s shares.
- He will buy out the other investors soon.
Examples
Imagine two friends running a café together. If one friend decides to leave, the other might buy her out to own the business alone. Here are some examples of buy sth out in a sentence:
- After five years, John decided to buy his partner out and run the business by himself.
- The company bought out its competitor to expand its market share.
- She was able to buy out her parents’ share of the family home.
- We need to buy out the other shareholders before making any big decisions.
- They bought out the lease to gain full control of the property.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “buy sth out” with other phrasal verbs or use it incorrectly in sentences. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I want to buy out the car. (Wrong because “buy out” usually refers to shares or ownership, not just buying an item.)
- Correct: I want to buy out my partner’s share in the company.
- Incorrect: She bought out the house from the bank. (Unnatural)
- Correct: She bought out her parents’ share of the house.
Differences / Synonyms
“Buy sth out” is similar to “buy up” and “buy off,” but they have different meanings:
- Buy up: To purchase a large quantity of something, often goods or stocks.
- Buy off: To pay someone to stop them from doing something, often dishonest or secretive.
- Buy sth out: To buy someone’s share or interest entirely.
For example, “buy up” is used in shopping or investing, while “buy off” usually has a negative meaning related to bribery. “Buy sth out” is neutral and legal.
Common Collocations
You’ll often hear “buy sth out” with these common objects. Understanding these collocations helps you use the phrase naturally:
- Share(s): A part of ownership in a company or property.
- Partner: A person involved in a business or project.
- Stake: A financial interest or share in a company.
- Business: A company or commercial activity.
- Lease: A rental agreement for property or equipment.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of buy sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation where two people discuss buying someone out:
Anna: Our partner wants to leave the business.
Ben: Should we buy him out?
Anna: Yes, that way we’ll have full control.
Ben: I’ll talk to the lawyer about the buyout process.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “buy sth out”:
- After years of working together, she decided to ______ her partner ______.
- The company plans to _______ the smaller firm to increase profits.
- We need to _______ all the investors before taking the final decision.
FAQ
- What does “buy sth out” mean? It means to purchase someone’s share or interest completely.
- Is “buy sth out” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “buy” and “out” or after “out.”
- Can I use “buy sth out” for any purchase? No, it mainly refers to buying shares or ownership interests.
- What is the difference between “buy out” and “buy up”? “Buy out” means buying someone’s share, while “buy up” means buying a large amount of goods or stocks.
- Can “buy sth out” be used in informal English? It is mostly used in formal or business contexts.
