Gross sb out Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Gross sb out” Mean?

“Gross sb out” means to make someone feel disgusted or sick because of something unpleasant or shocking.

Introduction

The phrase “Gross sb out” is a common informal expression in English used to describe the feeling of disgust or strong dislike caused by something. When someone says they are “grossed out,” it means they feel uncomfortable or even a little sick because of what they saw, smelled, or heard. This phrase is often used in casual conversations among friends or family, especially when talking about things like bad smells, creepy insects, or messy situations. Understanding the “Gross sb out meaning” helps learners recognize when to use it appropriately to express disgust in a clear and natural way.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Gross somebody out
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To disgust or make someone feel sick

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Gross sb out” is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object (somebody) between the verb and the particle or after the particle:

• Gross someone out
• Gross out someone

Examples of correct patterns:

• I don’t want to gross you out with the details.
• The smell really grossed me out.

How to Use “Gross sb out”?

You use “gross sb out” when you want to describe that something makes someone feel disgusted. It is mostly used in spoken and informal English. The phrase usually refers to physical or sensory disgust but can also describe emotional discomfort caused by something unpleasant. It is followed by the person who feels disgusted.

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “gross sb out” in context:

• The sight of mold on the bread really grossed me out.
• Don’t gross me out with those creepy bug stories!
• The rotten smell grossed everyone out at the picnic.
• He was grossed out by the dirty bathroom at the restaurant.
• Gross sb out in a sentence: “That video really grossed me out.”

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the position of the object in the phrase or misuse the verb tense. Here are some common errors:

• Incorrect: Gross out me the food.
• Correct: The food grossed me out.
• Incorrect: I grossed out from the smell.
• Correct: I was grossed out by the smell.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar expressions include “disgust someone,” “make someone sick,” or “turn someone off.” However, “gross sb out” is more informal and often used to describe physical or sensory disgust, while “disgust” can be more formal and used in broader contexts.

• Disgust someone: More formal, can refer to moral or emotional disgust.
• Make someone sick: Can mean feeling physically ill, not just disgusted.
• Turn someone off: Often used for losing interest, not necessarily disgust.

Common Collocations

Here are common objects and contexts used with “gross sb out”:

• Gross someone out with: bad smells, creepy insects, messy food, dirty places
• Gross someone out by: talking about gross topics, showing disgusting images

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “gross sb out”:

Anna: Did you see that bug crawl across the table?

Jake: Yeah, it totally grossed me out!

Anna: I know, I almost lost my appetite.

Practice

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:

“The rotten eggs smell really ______ me out.”

• a) gross
• b) grossed
• c) grossing
• d) grosses

Answer: b) grossed

FAQs

• Q: Can “gross sb out” be used in formal writing?

  A: It is mostly informal and better suited for casual conversations.

• Q: Is “gross sb out” always about physical disgust?

  A: Usually yes, but it can also describe emotional discomfort.
• Q: Can I say “grossed out by the movie”?

  A: Yes, if the movie had disgusting scenes.

• Q: What’s the past tense of “gross sb out”?

  A: Grossed sb out.

• Q: Can the object come before the particle?

  A: Yes, both “gross someone out” and “gross out someone” are correct.