What Does โCrowd sth out of sthโ Mean?
โCrowd something out of somethingโ means to force someone or something to leave a place or situation by filling the space or taking over.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โcrowd sth out of sthโ is commonly used when describing situations where someone or something is pushed out due to overcrowding or pressure. Understanding the โcrowd sth out of sth meaningโ helps learners grasp how space or opportunity can be taken away by others. This phrase often appears in contexts like events, markets, or social settings, where one group or thing occupies so much space that another is forced to leave or lose its position. It is a useful expression to describe physical or metaphorical displacement caused by crowding.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: crowd something out of something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To force someone or something to leave by filling the space
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCrowd sth out of sthโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object either between โcrowdโ and โoutโ or after โout ofโ.
Examples of patterns:
- crowd + object + out of + place
- crowd + out of + place + object
For example:
- They crowded the vendors out of the market.
- The vendors were crowded out of the market.
How to Use โCrowd sth out of sthโ?
Use this phrase when describing a situation where something or someone is forced to leave due to pressure or lack of space. It often implies a negative or competitive context, such as businesses pushing competitors out or people being forced to leave a crowded place.
It can refer to physical spaces or abstract concepts like opportunities or market shares.
Examples
- The big supermarket crowded the small shops out of the neighborhood.
- Fans crowded the players out of the locker room after the game.
- New technology is crowding traditional methods out of the industry.
- Students crowded older residents out of the community center.
- Heavy traffic crowded the cyclists out of the main road.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: The crowd out the sellers of the market.
Correct: The crowd crowded the sellers out of the market. - Incorrect: They crowd out the room the guests.
Correct: They crowded the guests out of the room. - Incorrect: She crowded out the office her colleague.
Correct: She crowded her colleague out of the office.
Differences / Synonyms
Compare with โpush outโ: Both mean to force someone to leave, but โpush outโ is more general and can be physical or metaphorical, while โcrowd outโ emphasizes filling space or resources.
Compare with โshove outโ: โShove outโ suggests a more forceful or abrupt action, whereas โcrowd outโ implies gradual pressure by numbers or presence.
Synonyms: displace, force out, oust
Common Collocations
- crowd competitors out of the market
- crowd residents out of neighborhoods
- crowd vendors out of the area
- crowd people out of rooms
- crowd animals out of habitats
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of crowd sth out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you hear about the new mall? Itโs huge!
Ben: Yeah, I heard it crowded all the small shops out of the town center.
Anna: Thatโs unfortunate. It must be hard for local businesses to survive.
Ben: Exactly. The big stores really crowded them out of the market.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of โcrowd out ofโ:
- The new stadium __________ the old community center __________ the neighborhood.
- Many small bookstores were __________ the market by online retailers.
- The tourists __________ the locals __________ the popular beach during summer.
FAQs
- Q: Is โcrowd sth out of sthโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q: Can โcrowd out ofโ be used for abstract ideas?
A: Yes, it can describe being forced out of opportunities or markets.
- Q: Is โcrowd out ofโ separable?
A: Yes, the object can come between โcrowdโ and โoutโ or after โout ofโ.
- Q: What is the difference between โcrowd outโ and โpush outโ?
A: โCrowd outโ focuses on filling space or presence, while โpush outโ is more about forceful removal.
- Q: Can โcrowd out ofโ be used in passive voice?
A: Yes, for example, โThey were crowded out of the park.โ
