What Does “Turn sb away” Mean?
“Turn sb away” means to refuse to allow someone to enter a place or to reject someone’s request or help.
Introduction
The phrase “Turn sb away” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone is denied entry or refused assistance. Understanding the “Turn sb away meaning” helps learners communicate situations involving rejection or refusal clearly. This phrase is often used in everyday situations like entering a club, getting service, or asking for help. Knowing how to use “Turn sb away” correctly will improve your speaking and writing skills, especially in describing real-life interactions where someone is not accepted or welcomed.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Turn sb away (turn somebody away)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To refuse entry or reject someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Turn sb away” is a separable phrasal verb.
- Pattern 1: Turn + somebody + away
Example: The club turned the guests away. - Pattern 2: Turn + away + somebody
Example: The security guard turned away the visitors.
Both patterns are correct, but the first is more common. The object (sb) can be placed between “turn” and “away” or after “away.”
How to Use Turn sb away?
Use “Turn sb away” when talking about situations where someone is refused permission to enter a place or denied help. It often implies a physical or metaphorical rejection. For example, a store might turn a customer away if it is closing. Or a shelter might turn someone away because it is full. This phrasal verb is polite but firm, usually used in formal or everyday contexts.
Examples
When the concert was full, they had to turn many fans away.
- The hotel turned us away because there were no rooms left.
- She was turned away at the door because she forgot her ID.
- The restaurant turned away customers after closing time.
- They turned away the protesters from entering the building.
- Hospitals sometimes turn patients away if they have no beds available.
These examples show how to use “Turn sb away in a sentence” naturally to describe refusal or rejection.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “Turn sb away” with “Turn away sb” or use incorrect objects.
- Incorrect: *Turn away the people.* (less common but not wrong, better to say “Turn the people away”)
- Correct: Turn the people away at the gate.
- Incorrect: *Turn away from someone.* (means to physically look away, different meaning)
- Correct: The guard turned the protesters away.
Remember, “Turn sb away” means to refuse entry or help, not just to look away.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “Send sb away” and “Refuse sb.”
- Send sb away: More general, means to make someone leave or go somewhere else.
- Refuse sb: More formal, means to say no to a request or offer.
- Turn sb away: Specifically means refusing entry or denying help.
Use “Turn sb away” when the focus is on denying access or service.
Common Collocations
It’s useful to know common objects and places used with “Turn sb away.”
- Turn customers away – refuse service to buyers
- Turn guests away – refuse entry to visitors
- Turn refugees away – deny shelter or help
- Turn patients away – refuse medical treatment
- Turn visitors away – deny access to people
These collocations often occur in news, customer service, and social contexts.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of turn sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “Turn sb away”:
Anna: Did you get into the club last night?
Ben: No, they turned me away at the door because it was full.
Anna: That’s too bad! Were many people turned away?
Ben: Yeah, a lot of people couldn’t get in.
Practice
Try completing these sentences with the correct form of “turn sb away”:
- The theater was full, so they __________ many fans __________ at the entrance.
- The shelter had no space and had to __________ the homeless people __________.
- She forgot her ticket, so the staff __________ her __________.
FAQ
- What does “turn sb away” mean?
It means to refuse someone entry or help. - Is “turn sb away” separable?
Yes, you can put the object between “turn” and “away” or after “away.” - Can “turn away” mean something else?
Yes, “turn away” without an object means to look or move in another direction. - Is “turn sb away” formal?
It is polite and commonly used in both formal and informal situations. - What is a synonym for “turn sb away”?
“Refuse” or “send away” can be synonyms depending on the context.
