What Does “Strike sb out” Mean?
“Strike sb out” means to remove someone from a list, record, or legal document, often officially or permanently.
Introduction
The phrase Strike sb out is a common phrasal verb used in formal and informal contexts. Its meaning usually involves removing or deleting a person from a list, record, or official document. For example, if someone is “struck out” of a legal case, they are removed from it. Understanding the Strike sb out meaning helps learners use this phrase correctly, especially in written or spoken English related to rules, records, or decisions.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Strike somebody out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To remove someone from a list or record
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Strike sb out” is a separable phrasal verb.
- You can say: strike someone out
- Or: strike out someone
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.
How to Use Strike sb out?
Use “strike sb out” when talking about officially removing a person from an official list, record, or document. It is often used in legal, administrative, or formal contexts. For example, you might say “The judge struck him out of the case” or “They struck her out of the membership list.”
Examples
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use “Strike sb out” in a sentence:
- The committee decided to strike John out from the voting list because he was no longer eligible.
- After the investigation, the company struck her out of the official records.
- The editor struck out several names from the guest list due to space limits.
- The player was struck out of the team roster after missing several practices.
- In court, the lawyer asked to strike out the witness’s statement as irrelevant.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse “strike sb out” with other similar phrases or use it incorrectly in context.
- Incorrect: He was struck out in the game. (This refers to baseball, not the phrasal verb)
- Correct: He was struck out of the report.
- Incorrect: Strike out him from the list.
- Correct: Strike him out from the list.
Differences / Synonyms
“Strike sb out” is similar to “remove,” “delete,” or “cross out,” but it is more formal and often legal or official. Unlike “cross out,” which means to draw a line through text, “strike sb out” means to remove a person from records or lists.
For example, “strike sb out” vs. “cross sb out”:
- “The editor struck out the incorrect name from the list.” (removed officially)
- “She crossed out the wrong word in her essay.” (marked with a line)
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects used with “strike sb out”:
- From the list: To remove someone from a list of people.
- From the records: To delete someone’s name or information from official records.
- Of a case: To remove someone from a legal proceeding.
- Of a document: To delete or remove a name or detail from a document.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of strike sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “strike sb out”:
Anna: Did you hear that Mark was struck out of the membership list?
Ben: Yes, because he didn’t pay the fees on time.
Anna: That’s too bad. I hope he can rejoin next year.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using “strike sb out”:
- a) The teacher struck out the student from the attendance list.
- b) The teacher struck out the student on the attendance list.
- c) The teacher strike out the student from the attendance list.
Answer: a) The teacher struck out the student from the attendance list.
FAQ
- What does “strike sb out” mean?
It means to remove someone from a list, record, or document. - Is “strike sb out” separable?
Yes, you can say “strike someone out” or “strike out someone.” - Can “strike sb out” be used in informal speech?
It is mostly used in formal or official contexts. - Is “strike sb out” the same as “cross sb out”?
No, “cross sb out” means to draw a line through text, while “strike sb out” means to remove someone officially. - Can “strike sb out” be used in legal contexts?
Yes, it is often used in legal or administrative settings.
