What Does โWait sb outโ Mean?
โWait sb outโ means to wait until someone finishes what they are doing or until a situation changes in your favor by being patient and persistent.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โWait sb outโ is often used when someone decides to be patient and allow time to pass until another person gives up or finishes an action. The Wait sb out meaning involves enduring a situation without rushing, often with the expectation that the other person will change their behavior or stop what they are doing. This phrase is common in both spoken and written English, especially in situations involving negotiations, conflicts, or challenges. Understanding how to use โWait sb outโ can help you express patience and strategy effectively.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Wait somebody out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To wait until someone stops or finishes something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โWait sb outโ is a transitive phrasal verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person you are waiting for).
- Subject + wait + somebody + out
- Example: They waited him out during the negotiation.
The verb is inseparable; you cannot place the object between โwaitโ and โoutโ.
How to Use Wait sb out?
Use โWait sb outโ when you want to describe the act of being patient until someone else stops doing something or until a situation changes through waiting. It often implies a strategic or deliberate decision to wait rather than act immediately.
Common contexts include waiting for someone to give up, finish a task, or change their mind.
Examples
Imagine a situation where two people are negotiating, and one decides to be patient until the other agrees.
- We decided to wait him out instead of making a quick decision.
- She waited the storm out inside the house.
- They waited the opposing team out by maintaining their defense.
- He waited his boss out until the deadline passed.
- Wait sb out in a sentence: The players waited the referee out, hoping for a better call.
Common Mistakes
It is common to confuse the placement of the object or the meaning of โwait outโ (without an object).
- Incorrect: She waited out him during the meeting.
- Correct: She waited him out during the meeting.
- Incorrect: We waited him until he left.
- Correct: We waited him out until he left.
Remember, โwait sb outโ always requires the object immediately after โwaitโ.
Differences / Synonyms
โWait sb outโ is similar to โwait for someone,โ but it carries a stronger sense of endurance and patience.
- Wait for someone: Simply waiting until someone arrives or finishes.
- Wait sb out: Waiting until the person stops doing something or gives up.
- Hold out: To resist or endure, but not necessarily involving waiting.
- Wait it out: To wait until a difficult situation ends, without an object.
Common Collocations
When using โwait sb out,โ certain objects frequently appear. These objects help clarify what or who you are waiting for.
- Wait the opponent out โ wait until the competitor stops or gives up.
- Wait the storm out โ wait until the bad weather passes.
- Wait the boss out โ wait until the boss finishes or changes their mind.
- Wait the deadline out โ wait until the deadline expires.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wait sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Two colleagues are discussing a difficult negotiation.
Anna: The client is being stubborn about the contract terms.
Mark: Letโs just wait them out. Theyโll probably agree if we stay calm.
Anna: Good idea. Patience is key here.
Practice
Complete the sentence with the correct form of โwait sb outโ:
- We decided to _______ the competitor _______ instead of rushing.
- She _______ her parents _______ until they agreed to her plan.
- They are trying to _______ the storm _______ before going outside.
FAQ
- What does โwait sb outโ mean? It means to wait patiently until someone stops or finishes something.
- Can I say โwait out someoneโ? No. The correct order is โwait someone out.โ
- Is โwait sb outโ formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- What is the difference between โwait for someoneโ and โwait sb outโ? โWait for someoneโ means simply waiting; โwait sb outโ means waiting until the person stops or gives up.
- Can โwait sb outโ be used in the past tense? Yes. For example, โThey waited him out during the meeting.โ
