What Does โDrive sb outโ Mean?
โDrive sb outโ means to force someone to leave a place, usually by making it uncomfortable or threatening. It often implies pushing someone away through pressure or actions.
Introduction
The phrase โDrive sb outโ is a common phrasal verb in English that means forcing someone to leave a location or position. This can happen in many situations, such as in a workplace, neighborhood, or even in nature when animals are driven out of their territory. Understanding the โDrive sb outโ meaning helps learners use it correctly in conversations and writing. It often involves a sense of pressure or conflict, where the person being driven out has no choice but to leave. This phrase is useful for describing situations of eviction, removal, or exclusion in both formal and informal contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Drive sb out (drive somebody out)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To force someone to leave a place
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โDrive sb outโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between โdriveโ and โoutโ or after the entire phrasal verb.
- Drive someone out
- Drive out someone
Example patterns:
- Subject + drive + object + out
- Subject + drive out + object
How to Use โDrive sb outโ?
Use โDrive sb outโ when talking about forcing someone to leave a place, job, or position. It often carries a negative tone, implying conflict or pressure. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Examples of contexts include:
- A company driving out an employee due to poor performance.
- Residents driving out unwanted visitors.
- Animals driven out from their natural habitat.
Examples
Imagine a situation where a new manager forces an old employee to quit. You could say:
- The harsh working conditions drove her out of the company.
- The neighbors drove the noisy teenagers out of the neighborhood.
- During the storm, the wild animals were driven out of the forest.
- The governmentโs policies drove many small businesses out of the market.
- The landlord tried to drive the tenants out to renovate the building.
These examples show how โDrive sb outโ can be used in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the object placement or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: They drove out her from the office.
Correct: They drove her out of the office. - Incorrect: The boss drive out the employee.
Correct: The boss drove the employee out. - Incorrect: She was driven out by the flood.
Correct: She was driven out of her home by the flood.
Remember, โdrive sb outโ needs an object and is often followed by a preposition like โofโ to show the place.
Differences / Synonyms
โDrive sb outโ is similar to phrases like โforce sb outโ or โpush sb out,โ but it often implies more active pressure or hostility. Unlike โkick sb out,โ which is informal and more direct, โdrive sb outโ can be used in formal contexts.
- Force sb out: General term for making someone leave, can be formal or informal.
- Push sb out: Implies gradual pressure, often used in workplaces.
- Kick sb out: Informal, direct removal, often sudden.
Understanding these nuances helps you choose the right phrase for your situation.
Common Collocations
When using โDrive sb out,โ certain objects frequently appear:
- Drive employees out: Forcing workers to leave a company.
- Drive tenants out: Forcing renters to leave a property.
- Drive invaders out: Forcing unwanted visitors or enemies to leave.
- Drive animals out: Forcing wildlife to leave an area.
- Drive competitors out: Forcing rival businesses to leave the market.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of drive sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Two friends discuss a recent event at work:
Anna: Did you hear about Mark? Theyโre trying to drive him out of the company.
Ben: Really? Why would they do that?
Anna: The new manager doesnโt like him. Heโs been given impossible deadlines.
Ben: That sounds unfair. I hope he doesnโt get driven out.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of โdrive sb outโ:
- The noisy neighbors finally ________ the family ________ of the building.
- The new policies may ________ small shops ________ of business.
- Wildfires often ________ animals ________ of their homes.
FAQs
- What does โdrive sb outโ mean?
It means to force someone to leave a place or position. - Is โdrive sb outโ formal or informal?
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Can โdrive sb outโ be used with animals?
Yes, it is often used to describe animals being forced to leave an area. - Is โdrive sb outโ separable?
Yes, you can place the object between โdriveโ and โoutโ or after the whole phrasal verb. - What is a common mistake with โdrive sb outโ?
Not using the object correctly or missing the preposition โofโ after the phrase.
