What Does “Take sth out of sb” Mean?
The phrasal verb “take something out of somebody” means to cause someone to feel very tired, stressed, or emotionally drained.
Introduction
The phrase “Take sth out of sb” is often used in everyday English to describe how an experience or activity affects a person’s energy or emotions. When something “takes a lot out of you,” it means it is exhausting or overwhelming. Understanding the “Take sth out of sb meaning” is important for expressing feelings about challenges, stress, or fatigue clearly in English. This phrasal verb can describe both physical tiredness and emotional strain in different situations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: take something out of somebody
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to make someone very tired or emotionally drained
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Take sth out of sb” is a transitive phrasal verb. It is separable, so you can place the object either after “take” or between “take” and “out.”
- take something out of somebody
- take something out of somebody
Examples:
- That long hike really took a lot out of me.
- It took a lot out of her to finish the project on time.
How to Use Take sth out of sb?
Use this phrasal verb when you want to express that an event, activity, or situation causes someone to feel physically or emotionally exhausted. It often follows this pattern:
- Subject + take(s) + object + out of + person
Commonly, the object is something like “energy,” “strength,” or “a lot,” but it can also be omitted for informal speech.
Examples
After a long day at work, it’s common to feel drained. Here are some sentences using “Take sth out of sb in a sentence”:
- Running a marathon really took everything out of him.
- That stressful meeting took a lot out of me.
- Being a caregiver can take a heavy toll and really take a lot out of someone.
- All the traveling for business trips takes a lot out of her.
- Fixing the broken car took a lot out of the mechanic by the end of the day.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition. Here are some incorrect and correct examples:
- Incorrect: The trip took a lot from me out.
- Correct: The trip took a lot out of me.
- Incorrect: She took out a lot from the exam.
- Correct: The exam took a lot out of her.
Remember, “out of” always comes together after the object.
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrasal verbs like “wear someone out” or “drain someone” have similar meanings but differ slightly:
- Wear someone out: Focuses more on physical exhaustion.
- Drain someone: Can refer to both physical and emotional exhaustion but is often more formal.
- Take sth out of sb: Used for both physical and emotional tiredness and is common in informal speech.
Common Collocations
Here are typical objects used with “take sth out of sb,” along with their meanings:
- a lot: a large amount of energy or strength
- everything: all of one’s energy or resources
- energy: physical or mental power
- strength: physical or emotional power
- the fight: refers to physical or emotional struggle
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of take sth out of sb:
- Take The Mickey Out Of Sb
- Take Sth Into Sth
- Take Years Off Sb
- Take Sth Off Sb
- Take A Leaf Out Of Sbs Book
Real-life Dialogue
Imagine two friends talking after a hard day:
Anna: You look tired. Did you have a long day?
Ben: Yeah, the meeting took a lot out of me. I’m exhausted.
Anna: I know the feeling. Sometimes work really drains your energy.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “take sth out of sb”:
- That workout really ______ me ______.
- Studying all night ______ a lot ______ her.
- The stressful situation ______ everything ______ him.
Answers: took … out of
FAQ
- Q: Can “take sth out of sb” be used in formal writing?
A: It is more common in informal speech but can be used in less formal writing.
- Q: Is “take sth out of sb” always negative?
A: Yes, it usually describes exhaustion or emotional strain.
- Q: Can the object be omitted?
A: Sometimes, especially in casual speech, but including it is clearer.
- Q: What is the difference between “take sth out of sb” and “wear sb out”?
A: Both mean to exhaust, but “wear sb out” often refers mainly to physical tiredness.
- Q: Can it describe emotional exhaustion?
A: Yes, it can describe both physical and emotional tiredness.
