What Does โChase sb outโ Mean?
โChase sb outโ means to force someone to leave a place quickly, often by chasing or threatening them.
Introduction
The phrase โchase sb outโ is a common English phrasal verb used to describe making someone leave a location, usually by pursuing or intimidating them. The โsbโ stands for โsomebody,โ meaning that the action is directed at a person. Understanding the chase sb out meaning helps learners express situations where someone is driven away. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as chasing animals out of a garden or chasing people out of a room. This phrase is practical for everyday conversations and storytelling, making it useful for English learners to know and use naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: chase somebody out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To force someone to leave by chasing or threatening
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โChase sb outโ is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it always needs an object (someone or something). It is separable, so the object can come between โchaseโ and โoutโ or after โout.โ
- Subject + chase + somebody + out
Example: They chased the dogs out. - Subject + chase + out + somebody
Example: They chased out the dogs.
How to Use โChase sb outโ?
You use โchase sb outโ when you want to describe making a person or animal leave a place quickly, usually by running after them or scaring them. It is often used in everyday speech and writing to describe situations like removing unwanted guests, animals, or intruders. You can use it in the past, present, or future tense by changing the verb โchaseโ accordingly (chased, chasing, will chase).
Examples
- The security guard chased the trespassers out of the building.
- We had to chase the stray cats out of the garden.
- When the kids started fighting, the teacher chased them out of the classroom.
- Local residents chased out the vandals from their neighborhood.
- Chase sb out in a sentence: The dog chased the burglars out of the house.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They chased out the from the park.
Correct: They chased them out of the park. - Incorrect: She chased out the cat the garden.
Correct: She chased the cat out of the garden. - Incorrect: We chased out the people quickly.
Correct: We chased the people out quickly.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Drive sb away: Means to make someone leave, often by making them feel unwelcome. It is less physical than โchase sb out.โ
- Kick sb out: Means to force someone to leave, often with authority, but usually less about physically chasing.
- Throw sb out: Similar to โkick out,โ but often implies a more forceful or abrupt removal.
The key difference is that โchase sb outโ implies a pursuit or running after someone, while the others focus more on authority or force without necessarily chasing.
Common Collocations
- Chase the intruders out
- Chase the animals out
- Chase the guests out
- Chase the burglars out
- Chase somebody out of the house
- Chase somebody out of the room
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of chase sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you see what happened in the park yesterday?
Ben: No, what?
Anna: Some kids were making a mess, and the security guard chased them out quickly.
Ben: Thatโs good. People need to respect public places.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โchase sb outโ:
- The farmer _______ the wild animals _______ of the field yesterday.
- When the neighbors complained, they _______ the noisy guests _______.
- He always _______ stray dogs _______ his yard.
FAQs
- Q: Is โchase sb outโ formal or informal?
A: It is more informal and used in everyday conversation. - Q: Can โchase sb outโ be used figuratively?
A: Yes, it can mean forcing someone to leave a situation, not just a physical place. - Q: What does โsbโ mean in โchase sb outโ?
A: โSbโ is a short form for โsomebodyโ or โsomeone.โ - Q: Can I say โchase out sbโ?
A: No, the correct order is โchase sb outโ or โchase out sb.โ - Q: Is โchase sb outโ separable?
A: Yes, you can put the object between โchaseโ and โout,โ or after โout.โ
