What Does โwear sth outโ Mean?
โWear something outโ means to use an object so much that it becomes damaged or unusable.
Introduction
The phrasal verb wear sth out is commonly used in everyday English. It describes the process of something becoming old or broken because of frequent use. Understanding the wear sth out meaning helps learners talk about objects that no longer work well or look good. This phrase is useful when discussing clothes, shoes, tools, or even ideas that have lost their value through constant use. Learning how to use โwear sth outโ correctly will improve your speaking and writing skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: wear something out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: A2-B1 (Elementary to Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To use something until it is no longer useful
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โWear sth outโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between โwearโ and โoutโ or after the whole phrase.
- Wear + object + out (e.g., I wore my shoes out.)
- Wear out + object (e.g., I wore out my shoes.)
Note: If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.
- Correct: I wore them out.
- Incorrect: I wore out them.
How to Use wear sth out?
Use โwear sth outโ when talking about items that get damaged from constant use. It often refers to clothes, shoes, or tools but can also apply to things like patience or energy in a figurative sense. The phrase is usually in the past tense because it describes something that has already happened.
Examples
Here are some examples to show how you can use wear sth out in a sentence naturally:
- My old sneakers finally wore out after two years of daily running.
- She wore out her favorite jeans because she wore them every day.
- The kids wore out the carpet with their constant playing.
- He wore himself out working late every night last week.
- We need to buy new gloves because the old ones are worn out.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the wrong pronouns with โwear sth outโ.
- Incorrect: I wore out it.
- Correct: I wore it out.
- Incorrect: She wear out her shoes.
- Correct: She wore out her shoes.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include use up and run down. However, โuse upโ means to consume all of something (like food or fuel), while โwear sth outโ means to damage or ruin by use.
- Wear sth out: The shoes are no longer usable because of wear.
- Use up: I used up all the milk.
- Run down: A battery or machine losing power or energy.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects paired with โwear outโ:
- Shoes: To damage shoes by walking or running
- Clothes: To make clothes old and torn
- Car tires: To use tires until they are unsafe
- Tools: To break tools from heavy use
- Patience: Figurative use, meaning to lose patience
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wear sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โwear sth outโ:
Anna: Your jacket looks old. Have you had it for a long time?
Ben: Yes, Iโve worn it out completely. Itโs time to buy a new one.
Anna: I know what you mean. I wore out my last coat last winter.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โwear sth outโ:
- She ________ her running shoes after training every day.
- The kids ________ the carpet by jumping on it.
- He ________ himself ________ working too hard last month.
Answers:
- wore out
- wore out
- wore out
FAQ
- What does โwear sth outโ mean? It means to use something so much that it becomes damaged or unusable.
- Is โwear sth outโ separable? Yes, you can place the object between โwearโ and โoutโ or after the phrase.
- Can โwear sth outโ be used figuratively? Yes, it can describe emotional or physical exhaustion.
- What is the difference between โwear outโ and โuse upโ? โWear outโ means to damage by use, โuse upโ means to consume completely.
- Can I say โwear out itโ? No, the correct form is โwear it out.โ
