Elbow sb out Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Elbow sb out” Mean?

“Elbow sb out” means to push someone roughly or forcefully out of a place or situation, often to take their position or space.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “elbow sb out” is commonly used in English to describe a situation where someone is pushed aside or forced out by another person. This phrase often implies a physical or metaphorical pushing, where “sb” stands for “somebody.” Understanding the elbow sb out meaning can help you recognize when someone is being excluded or replaced, whether in social settings, workplaces, or other areas of life. It is a vivid expression that conveys an action of removing or displacing someone, usually not very politely. Learning how to use this phrase correctly will improve your communication skills, especially in describing conflicts or competition.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: elbow somebody out
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: to push someone out of a place or situation

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Elbow sb out” is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it needs a direct object (someone or something). It is separable, so you can place the object between “elbow” and “out” or after “out.”

• Elbow somebody out
• Elbow out somebody

Both forms are correct, but “elbow somebody out” is more common.

How to Use “Elbow sb out”?

You can use “elbow sb out” when talking about situations where one person replaces or forces another out, often in a competitive or aggressive way. It can be physical, such as in a crowded place, or figurative, like in a job or social group.

Examples include:

• Someone pushing another person out of a queue.
• A colleague taking over a project, pushing the original leader aside.
• Being excluded from a group by others.

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “elbow sb out in a sentence”:

• He elbowed his way through the crowd, elbowing others out to get to the front.
• When the new manager arrived, she quickly elbowed the old team leader out of important meetings.
• Don’t let anyone elbow you out of your spot in line.
• She felt elbowed out of the conversation by more dominant speakers.
• The company’s new policy elbowed many employees out of their usual roles.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners misuse “elbow sb out” by mixing up the word order or using it without a direct object.

• Incorrect: He elbowed out the man.
• Correct: He elbowed the man out.
• Incorrect: They elbowed out quickly.
• Correct: They elbowed others out quickly.

Remember, you need to specify who is being elbowed out.

Differences / Synonyms

“Elbow sb out” is similar to phrases like “push sb out,” “shove sb aside,” or “crowd sb out,” but it often implies a more forceful or physical action.

• Push sb out: More general, can be physical or metaphorical.
• Shove sb aside: Implies a rougher, physical action.
• Crowd sb out: Means to exclude by presence or numbers, less physical.

“Elbow sb out” specifically suggests using elbows or force to make space, often in a crowded or competitive context.

Common Collocations

When using “elbow sb out,” certain words often appear together to describe who or what is being pushed out:

• Elbow someone out of a queue: pushing someone out of a line.
• Elbow someone out of a position: replacing someone in a job or role.
• Elbow someone out of a conversation: excluding someone from talking.
• Elbow someone out of the way: physically pushing someone aside.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of elbow sb out:

• Elbow Sb Aside

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “elbow sb out”:

Anna: Did you see how Tom elbowed Jake out of the meeting?

Ben: Yes, it was quite rude. He wanted to take all the credit.

Anna: I hope Jake doesn’t get elbowed out of the project completely.

Practice

Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “elbow sb out”:

• She __________ her coworker __________ of the presentation.
• Don’t let anyone __________ you __________ of your seat.
• The new player quickly __________ the veteran __________ of the team.

FAQs

• What does “elbow sb out” mean? It means to push someone out of a place or situation, often forcefully.
• Is “elbow sb out” formal or informal? It is informal and often used in spoken English.
• Can “elbow sb out” be used figuratively? Yes, it can describe being pushed out of roles or conversations, not just physically.
• Is “elbow sb out” separable? Yes, you can say “elbow somebody out” or “elbow out somebody.”
• What are synonyms for “elbow sb out”? Push out, shove aside, and crowd out are similar phrases.