What Does “Wipe sb out” Mean?
“Wipe sb out” means to completely exhaust someone or to destroy or defeat them entirely.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “wipe sb out” is commonly used in everyday English to describe situations where someone is very tired or overwhelmed. It can also mean to completely defeat or destroy a person or group. Understanding the “wipe sb out” meaning helps you use it correctly in different contexts, from casual conversations about feeling exhausted to discussions about competition or even natural disasters. This phrase adds color and emphasis, making your English sound more natural and expressive.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: wipe somebody out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to exhaust or completely destroy/defeat someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Wipe sb out” is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable. This means the object (somebody) always comes after the verb phrase and cannot be placed between “wipe” and “out.”
Correct pattern: wipe somebody out
Incorrect pattern: wipe out somebody
How to Use Wipe sb out?
You can use “wipe sb out” to talk about physical or mental exhaustion. For example, after a long day of work, you might say, “That meeting really wiped me out.” It also works in situations involving defeat or destruction, like “The storm wiped out the entire village.” The phrase is informal and fits well in both spoken and written English.
Examples
Here are some natural examples of “wipe sb out” in a sentence:
- After running the marathon, the heat completely wiped me out.
- The team was wiped out in the final game of the tournament.
- That long hike really wiped us out by the end of the day.
- The wildfire wiped out several homes in the area.
- Working two jobs can really wipe you out quickly.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: The storm wiped out the village completely.
- Correct: The storm wiped the village out completely.
- Incorrect: She wiped out herself after the game.
- Correct: She wiped herself out after the game.
Remember, the object must come immediately after “wipe” and before “out.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “wear sb out” and “knock sb out.”
- Wear sb out: Emphasizes making someone very tired over time.
- Knock sb out: Can mean to make someone unconscious or to impress strongly.
- Wipe sb out: Focuses on total exhaustion or complete defeat/destruction.
Each phrase has subtle differences, so choose based on whether you mean tiredness, unconsciousness, or total destruction.
Common Collocations
“Wipe sb out” often pairs with words related to people and groups, as well as natural disasters or tasks:
- Wipe me/us/you out: To express personal exhaustion.
- Wipe the team out: To describe defeating a group completely.
- Wipe the village out: To describe destruction of a place.
- Wipe the competition out: To mean defeating rivals thoroughly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wipe sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a natural conversation using “wipe sb out”:
Anna: That workout really wiped me out today!
Ben: Yeah, I felt the same. I can barely move now.
Anna: We should rest tomorrow before the next session.
Ben: Definitely. I don’t want to get wiped out completely.
Practice
Try completing these sentences with the correct form of “wipe sb out”:
- After the long flight, I felt completely __________.
- The hurricane __________ the small town last year.
- That intense exam really __________ me.
- The opposing team was __________ in the final match.
FAQ
- Q: Is “wipe sb out” formal or informal?
A: It is informal, commonly used in everyday speech. - Q: Can “wipe sb out” mean to kill someone?
A: It can mean complete destruction, but usually in a non-literal or exaggerated sense. - Q: Can I say “wipe out sb”?
A: No, the correct order is “wipe sb out.” - Q: What is the difference between “wipe sb out” and “wear sb out”?
A: “Wipe sb out” means total exhaustion or defeat, while “wear sb out” means to tire someone gradually. - Q: Is “wipe sb out” separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; the object always goes between “wipe” and “out.”
