What Does โWear sb outโ Mean?
โWear sb outโ means to make someone very tired or exhausted, usually after a lot of physical or mental effort.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โwear sb outโ 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 โwear sb outโ meaning helps learners express fatigue clearly and naturally. Itโs 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)
โWear sb outโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between โwearโ and โout,โ 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 itโs transitive, it always needs a direct object (someone or something that gets tired).
How to Use Wear sb out?
Use โwear sb outโ 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 โwear sb out in a sentenceโ: โThe marathon wore me out, but it was worth it.โ
Common Mistakes
Itโs common for learners to forget the object or to use the phrase incorrectly.
- Incorrect: โThe kids wear out.โ
- Correct: โThe kids wear me out.โ
- Incorrect: โShe wore out.โ
- Correct: โShe was worn out by the trip.โ
Remember, โwear sb outโ 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.
โWear sb outโ focuses on the process of tiring someone, often through effort or activity.
Common Collocations
โWear sb outโ 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 โwear sb outโ:
Emma: Iโm 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 โwear sb outโ.
- The long hike really _______ me _______.
- Those noisy children always _______ their parents _______.
- After working all day, she felt completely _______ out.
FAQ
- Q: Can โwear sb outโ be used for mental tiredness?
A: Yes, it can describe both physical and mental exhaustion.
- Q: Is โwear sb outโ formal or informal?
A: It is informal and commonly used in spoken English.
- Q: Can I use โwear outโ without an object?
A: No, โwear sb outโ requires a direct object (someone).
- Q: What is the difference between โwear sb outโ and โtire sb outโ?
A: They are very similar and often interchangeable.
- Q: Can โwear sb outโ refer to an object?
A: Yes, but in a different meaning, โwear outโ means to become damaged or old.
