What Does “Drown sth out” Mean?
“Drown something out” means to make a sound less noticeable or completely inaudible by producing a louder noise.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “drown sth out” is commonly used in English to describe the act of covering or blocking one sound with another, usually louder, sound. For example, if you are trying to listen to music but there is loud construction noise nearby, you might say the construction noise is drowning the music out. Understanding the “drown sth out” meaning helps learners express situations where one sound overpowers another. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, especially when talking about noise or distractions.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: drown something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to cover one sound by making a louder sound
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Drown sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) between “drown” and “out” or after the phrasal verb.
- Pattern 1: drown + something + out
Example: The music drowned the noise out. - Pattern 2: drown out + something
Example: The music drowned out the noise.
How to Use “Drown sth out”?
Use “drown sth out” when you want to say that one sound covers or blocks another sound. It is often used with sounds that are annoying or unwanted. This phrase can describe real noises or metaphorically describe emotions or distractions that overpower others. It is usually followed by a noun or pronoun representing the sound being covered.
Examples
Imagine you are trying to focus on reading, but loud traffic noise is disturbing you.
- The loud music from the party drowned out the sound of the TV.
- She turned up the radio to drown out the noise of the neighbors.
- The baby’s crying was drowned out by the thunderstorm outside.
- The sound of the crowd drowned out the announcer’s voice.
- He used headphones to drown out distractions while studying.
These examples show “drown sth out” in everyday situations. You can see how one sound is louder and covers the other.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use incorrect prepositions with this phrasal verb.
- Incorrect: She drowned out the loud music.
Correct: She drowned the loud music out. - Incorrect: The noise drowned the music.
Correct: The noise drowned out the music. - Incorrect: They drown music out.
Correct: They drown out the music.
Remember, the object can come between “drown” and “out” or after the phrasal verb, but never before “drown.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “cover up” and “block out,” but they have different meanings and uses.
- Drown out specifically relates to sound being covered by a louder sound.
- Cover up means to hide something, often not related to sound.
- Block out can mean to ignore or stop thinking about something, or physically stop light or sound.
For example, “drown out” is used with sounds, while “block out” can be used for thoughts or noises.
Common Collocations
When using “drown sth out,” certain nouns frequently appear as objects. These collocations help you sound natural.
- noise – unwanted or distracting sounds
- music – sounds from instruments or recordings
- sound – any kind of audible noise
- voice – spoken words or singing
- conversation – talking between people
- crying – the sound of someone crying
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of drown sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “drown sth out”:
Anna: I can’t hear the movie because of the loud music next door.
Ben: Yeah, the music is really drowning out the sound from the TV.
Anna: I wish they would turn it down so it doesn’t drown out the dialogue.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “drown out”:
- The thunderstorm __________ the sound of the fireworks.
- She played her guitar loudly to __________ the noise from the street.
- Can you turn up the volume? The traffic is __________ the radio.
- The crowd’s cheers __________ the singer’s voice.
FAQs
- What does “drown sth out” mean?
It means to cover one sound by making another sound louder. - Is “drown sth out” separable?
Yes, you can put the object between “drown” and “out” or after the phrasal verb. - Can “drown out” be used for things other than sound?
Mostly it refers to sound, but sometimes it can be used metaphorically for distractions. - What is a synonym for “drown out”?
“Block out” or “cover up” can be similar but are used differently. - Is “drown out” formal or informal?
It is neutral and common in both spoken and written English.
