What Does “Coax sth from sb” Mean?
“Coax sth from sb” means to gently persuade or encourage someone to give you something, often by using patience or kindness.
Introduction
The phrase “Coax sth from sb” is a common English expression used when someone tries to carefully and patiently persuade another person to provide something. It often implies a gentle or subtle approach, rather than force or direct demand. Understanding the “Coax sth from sb meaning” helps learners use this phrase in everyday conversations, especially when describing situations where persuasion is needed without pressure. Whether you want to coax information, a secret, or an object, this phrase fits perfectly. It is useful in both formal and informal settings, making your English sound natural and polite.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: coax something from somebody
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To gently persuade someone to give you something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Coax sth from sb” is a transitive phrasal verb phrase. It is inseparable, meaning you cannot separate “coax” and “from” with the object. The object (something) always comes immediately after “coax,” followed by “from” plus the person.
- Correct pattern: coax + something + from + somebody
- Incorrect pattern: coax + from + somebody + something
Example: She coaxed the truth from him. (Correct)
How to Use “Coax sth from sb”?
Use “coax sth from sb” when you want to describe persuading someone gently to give you something. This “something” can be information, an object, or even feelings. The phrase often suggests patience and careful effort rather than force.
It works well in storytelling, reporting conversations, or describing situations where persuasion is needed.
Examples
- The detective coaxed a confession from the suspect after hours of questioning.
- She coaxed the secret recipe from her grandmother with a lot of patience.
- It took some time, but I finally coaxed the truth from my friend.
- He coaxed the name of the winner from the shy student.
- They coaxed a smile from the child by telling funny stories.
These examples show different ways to use “coax sth from sb in a sentence,” illustrating how it fits naturally in English.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She coaxed from him the answer.
Correct: She coaxed the answer from him. - Incorrect: They coaxed from their friend the money.
Correct: They coaxed the money from their friend. - Incorrect: I coaxed him from the secret.
Correct: I coaxed the secret from him.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include:
- Get sth from sb: More general, can be direct or indirect, less polite.
- Extract sth from sb: More formal and sometimes implies difficulty.
- Persuade sb to give sth: A broader phrase, can be stronger or more direct.
“Coax sth from sb” specifically highlights gentle persuasion, often with patience and care, unlike “extract,” which may be more forceful.
Common Collocations
- Coax information from someone
- Coax a confession from a suspect
- Coax a secret from a friend
- Coax a smile from a child
- Coax the truth from a witness
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of coax sth from sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you get the details about the project?
Mark: Not yet. I had to coax the information from the manager slowly.
Anna: How did you manage that?
Mark: I asked gentle questions and waited for her to open up.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:
She finally _________ the truth _________ her brother after hours of talking.
- a) coaxed / from
- b) coaxed / to
- c) coax / from
- d) coaxed / by
FAQs
- What does “coax sth from sb” mean? It means to gently persuade someone to give you something.
- Is “coax sth from sb” formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Can I separate “coax” and “from”? No, the phrase is inseparable; the object must come between “coax” and “from.”
- What kinds of things can be coaxed? Information, secrets, confessions, emotions, or physical objects.
- Is “coax” the same as “force”? No, “coax” implies gentle persuasion, not force.
