What Does โDrive sth out of sthโ Mean?
โDrive something out of somethingโ means to force something to leave or be removed from a place or situation.
Introduction
The phrase โDrive sth out of sthโ is a useful phrasal verb in English that shows how one thing can be pushed or forced out from another. It is often used when describing the removal of something unwanted, such as pests from a home, emotions from the mind, or forces from a territory. Understanding the โDrive sth out of sthโ meaning helps learners express ideas about elimination or forcing something away clearly. This phrase is common in both everyday conversations and formal contexts, making it important to know how to use it correctly.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Drive something out of something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Meaning: To force something to leave or be removed from a place or situation
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โDrive sth out of sthโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) between โdriveโ and โout,โ or after โout of.โ
- Drive something out of something
- Drive out something from something (less common)
Example patterns:
- Drive + object + out of + place
- Drive + out + object + from + place (less common)
How to Use โDrive sth out of sthโ?
You use this phrase when you want to say that something is being forced to leave or disappear from somewhere. It usually involves a forceful action or influence. For example, you can say โThe new law drove corruption out of the government,โ meaning corruption was removed because of the law. This phrase can be used in many contexts, including physical removal, emotional relief, or social change.
Examples
Here are some examples of how to use โDrive sth out of sth in a sentenceโ naturally:
- The farmer used pesticides to drive the insects out of the crops.
- Strong leadership helped drive fear out of the community.
- New policies aim to drive corruption out of the system.
- We need to drive the bad habits out of our daily routine.
- The companyโs new strategy drove competition out of the market.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the word order or forget to include the preposition โout of.โ Here are some incorrect and correct examples:
- Incorrect: Drive the insects from the crops out.
- Correct: Drive the insects out of the crops.
- Incorrect: Drive out the fear the community.
- Correct: Drive fear out of the community.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โpush out,โ โforce out,โ and โexpel.โ However, โdrive outโ often implies a stronger, more aggressive action. For example, โpush outโ can be gentle or gradual, while โdrive outโ suggests a determined effort.
- Drive out โ force something to leave completely
- Push out โ move something out, sometimes gently
- Expel โ formally force someone or something to leave
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects used with โDrive sth out of sthโ and their meanings:
- Drive pests out of a house: Remove insects or animals
- Drive fear out of a community: Remove fear or anxiety
- Drive corruption out of government: Eliminate dishonest practices
- Drive bad habits out of a routine: Remove unwanted behaviors
- Drive competitors out of the market: Remove business rivals
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of drive sth out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Listen to this short conversation where two friends talk about using the phrase:
Anna: How did the city manage to drive crime out of the neighborhood?
Ben: They increased police patrols and improved community programs. It really helped drive crime out of the area.
Practice
Try to choose the correct sentence using โDrive sth out of sthโ:
- a) The new rules drove the bad habits out of the team.
- b) The new rules drove out of the bad habits the team.
- c) The new rules drove the bad habits the team out of.
Correct answer: a)
FAQs
- What does โdrive sth out of sthโ mean? It means to force something to leave or be removed from a place or situation.
- Is โdrive sth out of sthโ separable? Yes, you can separate the object and the preposition in the phrase.
- Can โdrive outโ be used with people? Yes, it can be used to describe forcing people to leave a place.
- What is the difference between โdrive outโ and โpush outโ? โDrive outโ is stronger and more forceful, while โpush outโ can be gentler or slower.
- Is โdrive sth out of sthโ formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
