What Does “Wear sb out” Mean?
“Wear sb out” means to make someone very tired or exhausted, usually after a lot of physical or mental effort.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “wear sb out” is commonly used in everyday English to describe a situation where someone becomes extremely tired. This could happen after physical activities like sports or hard work, or even after stressful situations. Understanding the “wear sb out” meaning helps learners express fatigue clearly and naturally. It’s a useful phrase to describe exhaustion caused by something or someone.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: wear sb out (wear somebody out)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to tire someone completely
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Wear sb out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between “wear” and “out,” or after the whole phrasal verb.
- Wear + somebody + out (e.g., The kids wore me out.)
- Wear out + somebody (e.g., The kids wore out their mother.)
Because it’s transitive, it always needs a direct object (someone or something that gets tired).
How to Use Wear sb out?
Use “wear sb out” when describing how a person becomes exhausted due to an activity or situation. It often refers to physical tiredness but can also describe mental fatigue.
Examples of situations include:
- After playing sports
- Working long hours
- Taking care of children
- Stressful or demanding tasks
Examples
After a long day at the amusement park, the children really wore their parents out.
- My job wears me out by the end of the week.
- Running for two hours wore him out completely.
- The noisy party wore the neighbors out.
- Taking care of three toddlers can wear you out fast.
Here is how to use “wear sb out in a sentence”: “The marathon wore me out, but it was worth it.”
Common Mistakes
It’s common for learners to forget the object or to use the phrase incorrectly.
- Incorrect: “The kids wear out.”
- Correct: “The kids wear me out.”
- Incorrect: “She wore out.”
- Correct: “She was worn out by the trip.”
Remember, “wear sb out” needs someone to be worn out (the object).
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Tire out: Very similar in meaning, often interchangeable.
- Exhaust: More formal, usually used in writing.
- Run down: Can mean tired but also weak or ill.
“Wear sb out” focuses on the process of tiring someone, often through effort or activity.
Common Collocations
“Wear sb out” often pairs with words related to people and activities:
- Kids/Children: Taking care of them can wear parents out.
- Work/job: Long hours can wear employees out.
- Exercise/sports: Physical activity can wear athletes out.
- Noise/activity: Loud or continuous activity can wear neighbors out.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wear sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a natural conversation using “wear sb out”:
Emma: I’m so tired today! The kids wore me out.
Jake: What did you do?
Emma: We spent the whole day at the zoo. Running after them is exhausting!
Jake: I can imagine. That sounds like hard work.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “wear sb out”.
- The long hike really _______ me _______.
- Those noisy children always _______ their parents _______.
- After working all day, she felt completely _______ out.
FAQ
- Q: Can “wear sb out” be used for mental tiredness?
A: Yes, it can describe both physical and mental exhaustion.
- Q: Is “wear sb out” formal or informal?
A: It is informal and commonly used in spoken English.
- Q: Can I use “wear out” without an object?
A: No, “wear sb out” requires a direct object (someone).
- Q: What is the difference between “wear sb out” and “tire sb out”?
A: They are very similar and often interchangeable.
- Q: Can “wear sb out” refer to an object?
A: Yes, but in a different meaning, “wear out” means to become damaged or old.
