What Does “Hound sb out” Mean?
“Hound sb out” means to persistently chase or force someone to leave a place or position, often in an aggressive or relentless way.
Introduction
The phrase “hound sb out” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the action of pushing someone away, usually through constant pressure or harassment. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” which means this phrase always involves a person being targeted. Understanding the hound sb out meaning helps learners recognize situations where someone is being driven out, whether literally or figuratively. This expression often conveys a negative feeling, suggesting that the person being hounded is treated unfairly or aggressively. Knowing how to use “hound sb out” properly enables you to describe scenarios in work, social life, or storytelling where someone is forced to leave due to persistent actions.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: hound somebody out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to force someone to leave by chasing or pressuring them
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Hound sb out” is a transitive and inseparable phrasal verb. This means the object (“sb”) always comes directly after “hound,” and you cannot separate “hound” and “out” with the object.
Correct pattern:
- hound somebody out
Incorrect patterns to avoid:
- hound out somebody
- hound somebody (without “out”) when the meaning of forcing out is intended
How to Use “Hound sb out”?
This phrase is used when describing situations where someone is pressured or chased away. It can be used in formal or informal contexts but often has a negative tone. You can use it to talk about being forced out of a job, a home, or even a social group.
Examples of use include:
- The media hounded the celebrity out of the city.
- Workers were hounded out of the company after the scandal.
Examples
Imagine a situation where a person is repeatedly bothered until they leave.
- The landlord hounded the tenants out by constantly raising the rent.
- She was hounded out of the office by gossip and rumors.
- Protesters were hounded out of the park by the police.
- He felt hounded out of his own home after the argument.
- The coach hounded the player out of the team due to poor behavior.
Here is “hound sb out” in a sentence:
“The aggressive sales tactics hounded her out of the store.”
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the position of the object or omit “out,” changing the meaning.
- Incorrect: “They hounded out the employee.”
- Correct: “They hounded the employee out.”
- Incorrect: “She was hounded away.”
- Correct: “She was hounded out.”
Remember, “hound” and “out” must stay together after the object for the correct meaning.
Differences / Synonyms
There are similar phrases like “drive sb out” or “push sb out,” but “hound sb out” suggests more persistence and aggression.
- Drive sb out: To force someone to leave, often by threats or pressure, but less aggressive than “hound out.”
- Push sb out: To remove someone, usually in a less forceful way.
- Hound sb out: Implies relentless chasing or harassment.
For example, “The company pushed him out” sounds less harsh than “The company hounded him out.”
Common Collocations
Certain words often appear with “hound sb out” to describe the target or situation:
- Hound the employee out: Forcing a worker to leave their job.
- Hound the tenant out: Driving a renter away from a property.
- Hound the politician out: Forcing a public figure to resign or leave.
- Hound the suspect out: Chasing a criminal away.
- Hound the competitor out: Aggressively forcing a rival to quit.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of hound sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “hound sb out”:
Anna: I heard the boss is hounding Mark out of the company.
John: Yeah, he keeps giving him impossible tasks. It’s like they want him gone.
Anna: That’s really harsh. No one deserves to be hounded out like that.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “hound sb out”:
- The noisy neighbors ________ the family ________ of the apartment.
- After the scandal, the politician was ________ of office.
- They ________ the old shopkeeper ________ by raising the rent.
Choose the correct option:
- a) hounded / out
- b) hounded out / (no extra word)
- c) hounded / away
FAQs
- What does “hound sb out” mean?
It means to force someone to leave by chasing or pressuring them persistently. - Is “hound sb out” formal or informal?
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but often sounds strong or negative. - Can I say “hound out sb”?
No, the correct order is “hound sb out.” The object must come between “hound” and “out.” - What are synonyms for “hound sb out”?
Synonyms include “drive sb out,” “push sb out,” or “chase sb away,” though “hound sb out” suggests more persistence. - Is “hound sb out” separable?
No, it is inseparable; the object always comes between “hound” and “out.”
