What Does “Tire of sb” Mean?
“Tire of sb” means to become bored or annoyed with someone after spending a lot of time with them.
Introduction
The phrase “tire of sb” is a common phrasal verb used to express feelings of boredom or frustration towards a person. When you tire of someone, it means you no longer enjoy their company or find their behavior interesting. The phrase is often used in casual conversations to describe changing emotions in relationships, friendships, or work situations. Understanding the Tire of sb meaning helps learners communicate feelings clearly and naturally in English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: tire of sb (tire of somebody)
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to get bored or annoyed with someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Tire of sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot place words between “tire” and “of.” The structure is:
- Subject + tire + of + somebody
Example: She is starting to tire of her noisy neighbors.
How to Use Tire of sb?
Use “tire of sb” when you want to express that you are losing interest or patience with a person. It is commonly used in present or past tenses.
- I tire of him always complaining.
- They tired of their boring routine.
The phrase is often followed by a pronoun or noun referring to the person you are talking about.
Examples
When you spend too much time with someone, you might feel differently about them. Here are some examples of “Tire of sb in a sentence”:
- After months of working together, I started to tire of my colleague’s constant negativity.
- She quickly tired of her new classmates because they didn’t share her interests.
- Don’t tire of your friends just because you have a disagreement.
- He tires of people who are always late.
- We have tired of the endless arguments in the family.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse “tire of sb” with similar phrases or use it incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I tire him of his jokes.
Correct: I tire of his jokes. - Incorrect: She tires on her friends.
Correct: She tires of her friends.
Remember, “tire of” is always followed by “of” + person or thing, never a direct object without “of.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “get tired of,” “be fed up with,” and “lose interest in.” Here are the differences:
- Tire of sb: Becoming bored or annoyed over time.
- Get tired of sb: Similar meaning but often more informal.
- Be fed up with sb: Stronger feeling of frustration or anger.
- Lose interest in sb: More neutral, focusing on no longer feeling interested.
Common Collocations
People often use “tire of” with these objects:
- Friends – feeling bored with friends
- Someone’s behavior – annoyed by specific actions
- Company – tired of being around someone
- People – general frustration with a group
For example, “I am tired of his behavior” or “She tires of her company.”
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of tire of sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “tire of sb”:
Anna: I think I’m starting to tire of John. He never listens to me.
Ben: That sounds tough. Have you talked to him about it?
Anna: Not yet, but I need to. I can’t keep feeling this way.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “tire of”:
- She ________ (tire) ________ her noisy neighbors after a week.
- We never ________ (tire) ________ good friends.
- He’s starting to ________ (tire) ________ the same old routine.
FAQ
- Q: Can I say “tire on someone”?
No, the correct phrase is “tire of someone.”
- Q: Is “tire of sb” formal or informal?
It is mostly informal but can be used in both spoken and written English.
- Q: Can “tire of” be used with things, not people?
Yes, for example, “I tire of this music.”
- Q: What is the difference between “tire of” and “get tired of”?
“Get tired of” is more informal but means the same as “tire of.”
- Q: Is “tire of” separable?
No, you cannot separate “tire” and “of.”
