Turn sb out of sth Meaning & Examples | How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Turn sb out of sth” Mean?

“Turn sb out of sth” means to force someone to leave a place, often a home or room. It usually implies eviction or refusal to allow entry.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “Turn sb out of sth” is commonly used in English to describe situations where someone is made to leave a place, such as a house, room, or building. This action is often involuntary and can be due to various reasons like eviction, disagreement, or rules. Understanding the “Turn sb out of sth meaning” helps learners use it correctly in both spoken and written English. This phrase is useful in everyday situations, especially when discussing housing, relationships, or authority. Knowing how to use it properly can make your English sound more natural and clear.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Turn somebody out of something
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: Force someone to leave a place

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Turn sb out of sth” is a transitive and separable phrasal verb. You can insert the object (somebody) between “turn” and “out,” but the place (something) always follows “out of.”

• Pattern 1: turn + somebody + out of + something
  Example: The landlord turned the tenants out of the building.
• Pattern 2: turn out somebody + out of + something (less common)
  Example: The manager turned out the employee out of the office.

How to Use Turn sb out of sth?

Use “turn sb out of sth” when you want to say that a person is forced to leave a place. It is often used in formal or serious contexts, such as evictions or expulsions. You can talk about landlords turning tenants out of apartments, parents turning children out of the house, or authorities turning protesters out of a building.

Examples

Here are some examples to help you understand how to use “Turn sb out of sth” in a sentence:

• The hotel turned the noisy guests out of their rooms after complaints.
• After the argument, she was turned out of her own home.
• The school turned out the students who were caught cheating.
• The police turned the protesters out of the park.
• He was turned out of the office for breaking company rules.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the order of words or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some common errors and the correct forms:

• Incorrect: They turned out of the house him.
  Correct: They turned him out of the house.
• Incorrect: She was turned out the room.
  Correct: She was turned out of the room.
• Incorrect: Turned out they the building.
  Correct: They turned out the guests from the building.

Differences / Synonyms

“Turn sb out of sth” is similar to “kick sb out of sth” but is slightly more formal. “Kick sb out” suggests a more aggressive action, while “turn sb out” can be used in legal or official contexts.

Another related phrase is “throw sb out of sth,” which is more informal and often used in casual speech.

• Kick sb out of sth: More forceful, informal
• Throw sb out of sth: Informal, aggressive
• Turn sb out of sth: Formal or neutral, often legal

Common Collocations

When using “turn sb out of sth,” the place is usually a home, room, building, or office. Here are some common collocations:

• Turn sb out of the house: Force someone to leave their home
• Turn sb out of a room: Make someone leave a room
• Turn sb out of an apartment: Evict someone from an apartment
• Turn sb out of the office: Remove someone from their workplace
• Turn sb out of a building: Force someone to leave a building

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of turn sb out of sth:

• Turn Sb Off
• Turn In Sth
• Turn Sb Down
• Turn Sth Back
• Turn Sb Away

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “turn sb out of sth”:

Anna: Did you hear about Tom? The landlord turned him out of the apartment last week.

Ben: Really? Why?

Anna: He didn’t pay the rent for three months.

Ben: That’s tough, but I guess the landlord had no choice.

Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct form of “turn sb out of sth”:

• The hotel ________ the noisy guests ________ their rooms after the complaints.
• They ________ the protesters ________ the park during the demonstration.
• She was ________ of her home after the argument.
• The manager ________ the employees ________ the office for being late.

FAQ

• Q: Is “turn sb out of sth” formal or informal?

  A: It is mostly formal or neutral and used in official or serious contexts.

• Q: Can I use “turn sb out of sth” for any place?

  A: Usually it refers to homes, rooms, buildings, or offices.
• Q: What is the difference between “turn sb out of sth” and “kick sb out of sth”?

  A: “Kick sb out” is more informal and forceful, while “turn sb out” is more formal or neutral.

• Q: Can I separate the phrasal verb?

  A: Yes, you can place the person between “turn” and “out,” but the place always follows “out of.”
• Q: Is “turn sb out of sth” used in passive voice?

  A: Yes, for example, “He was turned out of the house.”