What Does โWeigh sth outโ Mean?
โWeigh sth outโ means to measure the weight of something carefully, usually by using scales, to get an exact amount.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โWeigh sth outโ is commonly used when you want to describe the action of measuring a specific quantity of an item by weight. This is especially useful in cooking, science, or any situation where precision matters. Understanding the Weigh sth out meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts. It often involves separating a portion from a larger amount to get the exact weight required.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: weigh something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to measure and separate a specific weight of something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โWeigh sth outโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between โweighโ and โoutโ or after โout.โ
- Weigh something out
- Weigh out something
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common in everyday speech.
How to Use Weigh sth out?
Use โweigh sth outโ when you want to talk about measuring a specific amount of a substance or item by weight. It is often used in cooking, chemistry, or when dealing with products sold by weight.
Example contexts include weighing flour for a recipe, weighing parcels before shipping, or weighing ingredients in a lab.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using โweigh sth outโ in context:
- Before baking, I always weigh the flour out carefully to get the perfect texture.
- Could you weigh the sugar out for the recipe? We need exactly 200 grams.
- The pharmacist weighed out the medicine before giving it to the patient.
- Weighing out the coffee beans ensures a consistent taste every time.
- The store assistant weighed out the cheese and wrapped it for me.
These examples show how to weigh sth out in a sentence naturally.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse โweigh outโ with โweighโ or use the wrong word order. Here are some common errors:
- Incorrect: Can you out weigh the sugar?
- Correct: Can you weigh out the sugar?
- Incorrect: I need to weigh out carefully.
- Correct: I need to weigh something out carefully.
Remember, the object must be included, and โweigh outโ should stay together.
Differences / Synonyms
โWeigh sth outโ is similar to โmeasure out,โ but they are not identical. โMeasure outโ can refer to liquids or volumes, while โweigh outโ specifically refers to weight.
- Weigh out: Focuses on measuring by weight (grams, pounds, etc.)
- Measure out: Can mean measuring by volume or weight
- Weigh: Simply means to find the weight of something, not necessarily separating an amount
Common Collocations
When using โweigh sth out,โ certain objects are commonly paired with it. These collocations help you use the phrasal verb naturally.
- Flour: a powder used in baking
- Sugar: sweet granules used in cooking
- Medicine: pharmaceutical substances
- Coffee beans: raw or roasted beans used to make coffee
- Cheese: dairy product sold by weight
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of weigh sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โweigh sth outโ naturally:
Anna: Can you weigh out 100 grams of flour for the cake?
Ben: Sure, Iโll do it now.
Anna: Thanks! Itโs important to weigh it out exactly for the recipe to work.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence below with the correct form of the phrasal verb:
โPlease _________ 250 grams of sugar before adding it to the mixture.โ
- a) weigh out
- b) weigh
- c) weigh up
- d) weigh in
Answer: a) weigh out
FAQ
- Q: Can โweigh outโ be used for liquids?
A: Usually no, it refers to measuring weight, not volume. - Q: Is โweigh outโ separable?
A: Yes, you can say โweigh something outโ or โweigh out something.โ - Q: What is the difference between โweigh outโ and โmeasure outโ?
A: โWeigh outโ is for weight; โmeasure outโ can be weight or volume. - Q: Can I use โweigh outโ in informal speech?
A: Yes, it is common in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Is โweigh outโ only used in cooking?
A: No, it is also used in science, shipping, and other areas.
