What Does “Vote sb out” Mean?
“Vote sb out” means to decide that someone should leave a position, group, or place by voting against them. It is often used in contexts like competitions, meetings, or elections.
Introduction
The phrase “vote sb out” is commonly used in English when a group wants to remove someone from a role or situation through a voting process. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” meaning the person being voted out. This phrasal verb is popular in reality TV shows, politics, and workplaces where decisions are made by majority vote. Understanding the “vote sb out meaning” helps learners use it correctly to describe situations where someone is excluded or dismissed by collective agreement.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: vote somebody out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to remove someone by voting
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Vote sb out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- Vote someone out
- Vote out someone
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common.
How to Use Vote sb out?
Use “vote sb out” when describing situations where a group decides by voting to remove someone. It usually appears in past or present perfect tense, such as “They voted her out last week” or “He has been voted out of the committee.”
It often involves formal or informal groups, like teams, boards, or reality TV contestants.
Examples
In many reality TV shows, contestants can be voted out by the public or their peers.
- The team voted him out after he missed several important meetings.
- She was voted out of the competition because of poor performance.
- We decided to vote John out of the committee to bring in new ideas.
- They voted out the president during the annual meeting.
- He fears being voted out if he doesn’t improve his work.
Here is “Vote sb out in a sentence”: The board voted the manager out after the company lost several clients.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use the wrong object pronoun.
- Incorrect: Vote out him.
- Correct: Vote him out.
- Incorrect: They vote out she yesterday.
- Correct: They voted her out yesterday.
Remember to place the object correctly between the verb and particle or after it.
Differences / Synonyms
“Vote sb out” is similar to “kick sb out” or “remove sb,” but it specifically involves a formal voting process. “Kick sb out” is more informal and can happen without a vote. “Remove sb” is more general and does not imply voting.
- Vote sb out: Removal by voting.
- Kick sb out: Force someone to leave, often immediately.
- Remove sb: General term for taking someone out of a position.
Common Collocations
People often use “vote sb out” with words related to groups or roles.
- Vote a contestant out: remove a participant from a contest.
- Vote a leader out: remove a leader or manager.
- Vote a member out: remove a member from a group or committee.
- Vote someone out of office: remove a politician from their position.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of vote sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “vote sb out”:
Anna: Did you hear? They voted Jake out of the team yesterday.
Ben: Really? Why?
Anna: He wasn’t contributing much, so the group decided to vote him out.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “vote sb out”:
- They decided to _______ the unpopular leader _______ after the meeting.
- She was _______ out of the competition last week.
- Have you ever been _______ out of a group before?
FAQ
- What does “vote sb out” mean? It means to remove someone from a group or position by voting.
- Is “vote sb out” formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Can I say “vote out someone”? Yes, but “vote someone out” is more common.
- Is “vote sb out” separable? Yes, you can separate the object from the verb and particle.
- Where is “vote sb out” commonly used? In politics, reality shows, meetings, and group decisions.
