What Does “Clear out of sth” Mean?
“Clear out of sth” means to remove everything from a place or to use up all of something. It often implies completely emptying or finishing a supply.
Introduction
The phrase “clear out of sth” is a useful phrasal verb in English that describes the action of emptying a place or using up all of a particular item. It is commonly used when talking about cleaning, shopping, or when supplies run out. Understanding the clear out of sth meaning helps learners use it accurately in different contexts. This phrase can be applied in everyday situations, such as clearing out a closet or when a store runs out of stock. Knowing how to use “clear out of sth” naturally will improve your fluency and make your English sound more natural.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: clear out of something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To remove everything from a place or use up all of something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Clear out of sth” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) either after the entire phrasal verb or between “clear” and “out.”
Examples of structure patterns:
- clear out of + something (e.g., They cleared out of the warehouse.)
- clear + something + out of (e.g., She cleared the boxes out of the room.)
Remember, the verb is transitive, so it always requires an object.
How to Use “Clear out of sth”?
Use “clear out of sth” when you want to talk about completely removing items or using all of a resource. It can refer to physical spaces, like clearing out a room, or supplies, like clearing out of stock. The phrase often implies that nothing remains afterward.
For example, if a store “clears out of” a product, it means that product is sold out. If a person “clears out of” a room, they remove everything from it.
Examples
- The supermarket cleared out of fresh bread by noon.
- We need to clear out of the garage before the movers arrive.
- She cleared all the old clothes out of her closet last weekend.
- After the party, they cleared out of the venue quickly.
- Our office cleared out of printer paper faster than expected.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They cleared out the room of all boxes.
Correct: They cleared the boxes out of the room. - Incorrect: The store cleared out of the products all.
Correct: The store cleared out of all the products. - Incorrect: I clear out of my desk today.
Correct: I cleared out of my desk today.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “clear up,” “clean out,” and “run out of.”
- Clear up: Usually means to tidy or fix something, not necessarily removing everything.
- Clean out: Very similar to “clear out,” but often used when removing unwanted or unnecessary items.
- Run out of: Means to use all of something, but does not imply removing items physically.
For example, “The store ran out of milk” means no milk is left, while “The store cleared out of milk” emphasizes that all milk was sold or removed.
Common Collocations
- clear out of stock
- clear out of the room
- clear out of the house
- clear out of supplies
- clear out of inventory
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of clear out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did the store still have any coffee left?
Mark: No, they cleared out of it this morning.
Anna: Oh no! I wanted to buy some for the weekend.
Mark: Maybe try the other shop. They might not have cleared out of it yet.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “clear out of sth”:
- The shop ____________ all the new smartphones within an hour.
- We need to ____________ the garage before the inspection.
- They ____________ of all the snacks during the party.
- She ____________ old files from her desk last weekend.
FAQs
- Q: Can “clear out of sth” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, it can be used in past, present, and future tenses. - Q: Is “clear out of sth” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal and used in everyday conversations. - Q: Can “clear out of” be used without an object?
A: No, it needs an object to complete the meaning. - Q: What is the difference between “clear out of” and “run out of”?
A: “Clear out of” implies physically removing or selling all items; “run out of” means something is used up or finished.
