What Does “Turf sb out of sth” Mean?
“Turf sb out of sth” means to force someone to leave or remove them from a place or situation, often in an abrupt or unfriendly way.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “turf sb out of sth” is commonly used in informal English to describe situations where someone is made to leave a place or lose their position. It often implies a sudden or unwanted removal, such as being kicked out of a home, office, or group. Understanding the Turf sb out of sth meaning helps learners express ideas about rejection or eviction clearly and naturally. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, especially when talking about conflicts or changes in social or work environments.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Turf sb out of sth (e.g., turf someone out of the house)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To force someone to leave or remove them from a place or situation
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Turf sb out of sth” is a separable phrasal verb. The object (sb) must come between “turf” and “out of.” The phrase “out of” is a fixed particle and cannot be separated from the verb.
Pattern: Turf + somebody + out of + something
Example: They turfed him out of the office.
How to Use Turf sb out of sth?
Use “turf sb out of sth” when you want to describe someone being forced to leave or removed from a place or position. It is often used negatively to show that the removal was unfair or harsh. It can refer to physical places (like a house) or abstract situations (like a job or club).
Examples
Imagine a tenant who didn’t pay rent and was forced to leave their apartment. You could say:
- The landlord turfed the tenants out of their flat after months of unpaid rent.
- She was turfed out of the club because she broke the rules.
- After the argument, he was turfed out of the meeting by the manager.
- They turfed him out of the office when the project was canceled.
- My parents turfed me out of the house when I turned 18.
These examples show how Turf sb out of sth in a sentence expresses forced removal.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the order of words or omit the object. Here are some common errors:
- Incorrect: The landlord turfed out the tenants the flat.
- Correct: The landlord turfed the tenants out of the flat.
- Incorrect: They turfed out of the office him.
- Correct: They turfed him out of the office.
Remember: the person being removed (sb) must come immediately after “turf.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Turf sb out of sth” is similar to “kick sb out of sth” or “throw sb out of sth.” However, “kick out” is more direct and often more forceful, while “turf out” can sound slightly less aggressive but still informal and negative.
Example:
- They kicked him out of the bar for causing trouble.
- They turfed him out of the bar after the argument.
Common Collocations
You often see “turf sb out of” used with places or positions. Here are some frequent collocations:
- House/Home – to force someone to leave their residence
- Office – to remove someone from their workplace
- Club – to expel someone from a social group
- Job/Position – to dismiss someone from their role
- Meeting – to make someone leave a discussion or event
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of turf sb out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here’s a short conversation using “turf sb out of sth”:
Anna: Did you hear what happened to Mark at work?
Ben: No, what?
Anna: They turfed him out of the office after the project failed.
Ben: That’s rough. I hope he finds something else soon.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “turf sb out of sth”:
- The manager __________ the employee __________ the meeting because he was late.
- After the argument, they __________ her __________ the house.
- The club __________ several members __________ for breaking the rules.
FAQ
- What does “turf sb out of sth” mean? It means to force someone to leave or remove them from a place or situation.
- Is “turf sb out of sth” formal or informal? It is informal and often used in casual conversations.
- Can I use “turf sb out of sth” in writing? Yes, but it is best suited for informal writing or dialogue.
- What is the difference between “turf out” and “kick out”? Both mean to remove someone, but “kick out” is usually stronger and more forceful.
- Is the phrasal verb separable? Yes, the object must come between “turf” and “out of.”
