What Does “Crowd sb out of sth” Mean?
“Crowd sb out of sth” means to push someone out of a place, activity, or opportunity by being too many or too forceful. It usually implies that someone is excluded because others take up all the space or chances.
Introduction
The phrase “crowd sb out of sth” is a useful phrasal verb in English that describes a situation where someone is forced to leave or is excluded from something because others have taken over. This could be physical, like a place, or more abstract, like a chance or opportunity. Understanding the crowd sb out of sth meaning helps learners express situations where competition or too many people lead to exclusion. It’s common in conversations about social events, work environments, or competitive situations. By learning how to use this phrase properly, you can describe these scenarios clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: crowd sb out of sth (crowd somebody out of something)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To force someone to leave or lose a place or opportunity by being too many or too dominant
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Crowd sb out of sth” is a separable phrasal verb where “sb” (somebody) is the object. The structure follows:
crowd + somebody + out of + something
Example patterns:
- They crowded me out of the conversation.
- She was crowded out of the market by bigger companies.
How to Use “Crowd sb out of sth”?
Use this phrase when you want to describe someone being forced to leave or losing access because others take over. It often describes situations with competition, pressure, or physical space limitations.
It’s used mainly in situations like:
- Being excluded from a group or event
- Losing a job or opportunity due to others
- Physical spaces where too many people cause exclusion
Examples
- The new chain stores crowded small local shops out of the neighborhood.
- He felt crowded out of the discussion by louder participants.
- During the concert, the big fans crowded the smaller ones out of the front seats.
- Many young people are crowded out of the housing market because of high prices.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They crowded out of me the job opportunity.
Correct: They crowded me out of the job opportunity. - Incorrect: I was crowded out the meeting by others.
Correct: I was crowded out of the meeting by others.
Differences / Synonyms
“Crowd sb out of sth” is similar to “push sb out of sth” or “force sb out of sth,” but it emphasizes the idea of many people or a group causing exclusion, often by occupying space or opportunities.
Unlike “push out,” which can imply a physical or forceful action, “crowd out” usually suggests exclusion by numbers or competition.
Common Collocations
- crowd sb out of the market
- crowd sb out of a job
- crowd sb out of a place
- crowd sb out of a conversation
- crowd sb out of an opportunity
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of crowd sb out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Alice: I wanted to join the local club, but it felt like I was crowded out of the group.
Ben: How so?
Alice: There were so many members already, and they didn’t really make space for new people.
Ben: That’s tough. Sometimes too many people can crowd others out without meaning to.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “crowd sb out of sth”:
- The big companies have ________ many small businesses ________ the market.
- She felt ________ of the conversation because others were talking loudly.
- During the festival, the tourists ________ the locals ________ their favorite spots.
FAQs
- Q: Is “crowd sb out of sth” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can “crowd out” be used without “sb”?
A: Yes, but the meaning changes. “Crowd out” alone often means to replace or push something out, not necessarily a person.
- Q: What is the difference between “crowd out” and “crowd sb out of sth”?
A: “Crowd out” can mean to push something out generally, while “crowd sb out of sth” specifically means forcing a person to leave or lose a place or opportunity.
- Q: Can “crowd sb out of sth” be used for physical places?
A: Yes, it is often used to describe being pushed out of a physical space.
- Q: Is “crowd sb out of sth” separable?
A: Yes, the object “sb” comes between “crowd” and “out of.”
