Hurry sb along Meaning, Examples & How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Hurry sb along” Mean?

“Hurry sb along” means to encourage or make someone move or act faster than they are currently doing.

Introduction

The phrase “hurry sb along” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the act of urging someone to speed up or do something more quickly. This phrasal verb is often used in everyday conversations when time is limited and a person needs to be encouraged to move faster. Understanding the “hurry sb along meaning” helps learners communicate politely and effectively when they want to prompt others without sounding rude. Whether you are in a workplace, classroom, or casual setting, knowing how to use “hurry sb along” can improve your English fluency and make your expressions more natural.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: hurry somebody along (hurry sb along)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To encourage someone to go faster or do something more quickly

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Hurry sb along” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (someone) either between “hurry” and “along” or after the entire phrasal verb.

• hurry somebody along
• hurry along somebody
(less common)

Examples:

• The teacher hurried the students along to finish the test.
• She hurried along the children so they wouldn’t be late.

How to Use “Hurry sb along”?

You use “hurry sb along” when you want to politely or firmly ask someone to move faster or complete a task sooner. It is often used in situations where time is important but you want to avoid sounding too demanding. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples

Imagine you’re waiting for your friend who is taking too long to get ready. You might say:

• “Come on, I’m going to have to hurry you along if we want to catch the bus.”
• “The manager hurried the team along to meet the deadline.”
• “Can you hurry the children along? We don’t want to be late for the show.”
• “She hurried me along because the meeting was about to start.”
• “They hurried the workers along to finish the project on time.”

Common Mistakes

It’s common for learners to misuse the structure or confuse “hurry sb along” with other phrases.

• Incorrect: Hurry along me to finish.
• Correct: Hurry me along to finish.
• Incorrect: Hurry along the bus.
• Correct: Hurry the bus along.

Remember, the object should be a person or group, not a thing like a bus or item.

Differences / Synonyms

“Hurry sb along” is similar to “rush sb,” “speed sb up,” or “push sb.” However, “hurry sb along” is often softer and less forceful than “rush.” It implies encouragement rather than pressure.

• Rush sb: to force someone to act quickly, can sound aggressive.
• Speed sb up: less common, more neutral.
• Push sb: can mean to pressure someone physically or mentally.

Use “hurry sb along” when you want to sound polite but clear about needing speed.

Common Collocations

When using “hurry sb along,” certain objects are more common. These include:

• Hurry the children along: encourage kids to move faster
• Hurry the customers along: speed up people waiting
• Hurry the team along: encourage a group working together
• Hurry the guests along: prompt visitors to leave or move
• Hurry the process along: (less common) encourage speeding up of an action or event

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of hurry sb along:

• Hurry Sth Up
• Hurry Sth Along
• Hurry Sb Up

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation where “hurry sb along” is used naturally:

Anna: The kids are taking forever to get ready.

Ben: Yeah, we should hurry them along if we want to leave on time.

Anna: I’ll tell them to get their shoes on now.

Ben: Good idea. Let’s not be late.

Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct form of “hurry sb along”:

• She _______ the guests _______ because the event was ending.
• The coach _______ the players _______ during the practice.
• We need to _______ the children _______ if we want to catch the train.

FAQs

• What does “hurry sb along” mean? It means to encourage someone to move or act faster.
• Is “hurry sb along” formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal situations.
• Can I use “hurry sb along” with things, not people? No, it is usually used with people or groups, not objects.
• What is the difference between “hurry sb along” and “rush sb”? “Hurry sb along” is gentler and more polite; “rush sb” can sound more forceful.
• Can I separate the phrasal verb? Yes, you can put the object between “hurry” and “along.”