What Does โDo sb out of sthโ Mean?
โDo sb out of sthโ means to unfairly prevent someone from getting or keeping something, usually by cheating or trickery.
Introduction
The phrase โDo sb out of sthโ is a common English phrasal verb used to describe situations where someone is unfairly denied something that rightfully belongs to them. The โsbโ stands for โsomebody,โ and โsthโ means โsomething.โ This expression often involves dishonesty or trickery, such as cheating someone out of money, property, or an opportunity. Understanding the Do sb out of sth meaning helps learners recognize when unfair treatment is described in everyday English. It is useful in both spoken and written contexts, especially in stories, news, or conversations about disputes and conflicts. Knowing how to use this phrase correctly will improve your ability to express unfairness or injustice clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: do somebody out of something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to cheat someone to prevent them from getting something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โDo sb out of sthโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object โsbโ (somebody) between โdoโ and โout ofโ or after the whole phrase.
- do somebody out of something
- do somebody out of something (object can come after)
For example:
- He was done out of his inheritance.
- They did her out of the prize.
How to Use โDo sb out of sthโ?
Use this phrase when you want to talk about someone being unfairly cheated or denied something valuable. It often appears in stories about fraud, unfair business deals, or personal conflicts. The object โsbโ is always the person who is cheated, and โsthโ is the thing they lose.
Examples
Imagine a situation where a person is cheated out of money they deserve. Here are some examples:
- She was done out of her share of the inheritance by her greedy relatives.
- The company did him out of his rightful bonus.
- The landlord did the tenants out of their deposit.
- He claimed that the dealer did him out of a lot of money in the transaction.
- Donโt let anyone do you out of your hard-earned savings.
These examples clearly show how to use โDo sb out of sth in a sentence.โ
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or forget that the phrase is separable. Sometimes, โdo out ofโ is mistakenly used without the person or with incorrect prepositions.
- Incorrect: They did out of her money.
- Correct: They did her out of her money.
- Incorrect: He was done out his prize.
- Correct: He was done out of his prize.
Remember, the person (sb) must come right after โdoโ or before โout of.โ
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrases like cheat, swindle, or rob can have a similar meaning but differ in use. โDo sb out of sthโ emphasizes unfairness or trickery in denying something, often legally or morally wrong but not always violent.
- Cheat sb out of sth: very similar, often used for games or money.
- Swindle sb out of sth: more formal, implies a scam or fraud.
- Rob sb of sth: usually involves force or threat.
While all mean unfairly taking something, โdo sb out of sthโ is a casual, idiomatic way to describe being cheated or deprived.
Common Collocations
When using this phrase, certain objects often appear because they are things people can be unfairly denied:
- money: He was done out of a large sum of money.
- inheritance: She was done out of her inheritance.
- prize: They did him out of the competition prize.
- opportunity: He was done out of a job opportunity.
- deposit: The landlord did them out of their deposit.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of do sb out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Imagine two friends talking about a recent unfair event:
Anna: Did you hear about Tom? He got done out of his bonus at work.
Ben: Really? How did that happen?
Anna: The manager said the company couldnโt afford it, but I think they just donโt want to pay him.
Ben: Thatโs awful. Nobody should be done out of something they earned.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of โdo sb out of sthโ:
- They __________ him __________ his inheritance by changing the will.
- Be careful not to let anyone __________ you __________ your money.
- She felt like the company __________ her __________ a promotion unfairly.
FAQs
- What does โDo sb out of sthโ mean? It means to cheat someone and unfairly prevent them from getting something.
- Is โDo sb out of sthโ formal? It is informal and commonly used in everyday English.
- Can I use โDo sb out of sthโ in writing? Yes, especially in stories, reports, or informal writing.
- What is the difference between โdo sb out of sthโ and โcheat sbโ? โDo sb out of sthโ specifically means unfairly denying something, while โcheatโ can be broader.
- Can โDo sb out of sthโ be used with opportunities? Yes, it can refer to being unfairly denied chances or opportunities.
