Move sb aside Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Move sb aside” Mean?

“Move sb aside” means to ask or cause someone to step away from their current position, usually to clear a path or to speak privately.

Introduction

The phrase “move sb aside” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone is asked to step out of the way or be set apart, either physically or metaphorically. Understanding the move sb aside meaning helps learners communicate clearly when they need to make space for something or someone else, or when they want to have a private conversation. This phrase is often used in everyday situations like in crowds, offices, or during discussions. Knowing how to use “move sb aside” correctly will improve your English fluency and help you sound more natural.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: move somebody aside
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1
• Short meaning: to ask or cause someone to step away from a place or position

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Move sb aside” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (somebody) between “move” and “aside,” or after the whole phrase.

• Move somebody aside
• Move aside somebody

Examples:

• Please move her aside so I can get through.
• He moved aside the man blocking the door.

How to Use “Move sb aside”?

You use “move sb aside” when you want someone to step out of the way physically or to separate someone from a situation for a specific purpose. It can be polite or direct depending on the context. It is common in both formal and informal English.

Examples

Imagine you are in a crowded room, and you need to get through. You might say:

• “Could you please move aside?”
• The security guard moved the protesters aside to clear the path.
• During the meeting, the manager moved aside the noisy group to speak privately with a client.
• She moved her papers aside to make space on the desk.
• The coach moved aside the injured player to give way to a substitute.

These sentences show how “move sb aside” can be used in different real-life situations.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse the correct word order or use the wrong preposition. Here are some common errors:

• Incorrect: Move aside him.
• Correct: Move him aside.
• Incorrect: Move him away aside.
• Correct: Move him aside.

Remember, “aside” always follows the object or comes directly after the verb when the object is omitted.

Differences / Synonyms

“Move sb aside” is similar to phrases like “step aside,” “push sb aside,” or “get out of the way.” However, there are subtle differences:

• Step aside: Usually more polite and often voluntary.
• Push sb aside: Implies force or rudeness.
• Move sb aside: Neutral; can be polite or firm depending on tone.

Choose the phrase based on how polite or forceful you want to sound.

Common Collocations

In everyday use, “move sb aside” is often followed by people or objects. Here are some common collocations:

• Move the crowd aside – to clear a group of people
• Move a person aside – to ask someone to step away
• Move papers aside – to clear space on a surface
• Move obstacles aside – to remove things blocking a way
• Move a player aside – to replace or remove from a position

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of move sb aside:

• Move Toward Sth
• Move Towards Sth
• Move Sth Down
• Move Sth Up
• Move Across Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “move sb aside”:

Anna: Excuse me, can you move aside? I need to get through.

John: Of course, sorry about that.

Anna: Thanks! It’s really crowded here.

John: No problem, I’ll move aside so you can pass.

Practice

Try to complete the sentence with the correct form:

“Please ________ the boxes ________ so we can open the door.”

• a) move / aside
• b) move aside /
• c) move aside them
• d) aside move them

Correct answer: a) move / aside

FAQs

• Q: Is “move sb aside” polite?

  A: It depends on tone, but it can be polite if said gently.

• Q: Can “move aside” be used without an object?

  A: Yes, “move aside” alone means to step out of the way.
• Q: Can I say “move me aside”?

  A: Yes, it means asking someone to move you out of the way.

• Q: Is “push sb aside” the same as “move sb aside”?

  A: Not exactly; “push” suggests force, while “move” is neutral.
• Q: What level is “move sb aside”?

  A: It is usually considered a B1 level phrasal verb.