What Does “Drive sb out” Mean?
“Drive sb out” 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 “Drive sb out” 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 “Drive sb out” 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)
“Drive sb out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between “drive” and “out” 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 “Drive sb out”?
Use “Drive sb out” 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 government’s 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 “Drive sb out” 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, “drive sb out” needs an object and is often followed by a preposition like “of” to show the place.
Differences / Synonyms
“Drive sb out” is similar to phrases like “force sb out” or “push sb out,” but it often implies more active pressure or hostility. Unlike “kick sb out,” which is informal and more direct, “drive sb out” 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 “Drive sb out,” 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? They’re trying to drive him out of the company.
Ben: Really? Why would they do that?
Anna: The new manager doesn’t like him. He’s been given impossible deadlines.
Ben: That sounds unfair. I hope he doesn’t get driven out.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of “drive sb out”:
- 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 “drive sb out” mean?
It means to force someone to leave a place or position. - Is “drive sb out” formal or informal?
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Can “drive sb out” be used with animals?
Yes, it is often used to describe animals being forced to leave an area. - Is “drive sb out” separable?
Yes, you can place the object between “drive” and “out” or after the whole phrasal verb. - What is a common mistake with “drive sb out”?
Not using the object correctly or missing the preposition “of” after the phrase.
