Worm sth out of sb Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Worm sth out of sb” Mean?

“Worm sth out of sb” means to gradually and carefully get information or a secret from someone who does not want to share it.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “Worm sth out of sb” is often used when someone tries to extract information from another person, usually in a subtle or indirect way. It suggests a slow and careful process, like a worm moving out of a hole. Understanding the Worm sth out of sb meaning helps learners grasp how to describe situations where secrets or details are obtained by persuasion or clever questioning. This expression is common in everyday English, especially in conversations involving curiosity or investigation.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Worm something out of somebody
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To get information from someone who is unwilling to tell it

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Worm sth out of sb” is a separable phrasal verb. The object (something) can come between “worm” and “out,” or after “out.”

• Worm something out of somebody
• Worm it out of somebody
• You can also say: Worm out of somebody something (less common)

Example: She managed to worm the truth out of him.

How to Use Worm sth out of sb?

Use this phrasal verb when describing situations where you or someone else carefully or cleverly gets information from another person. It often implies the person giving the information is reluctant or hesitant. It’s common in storytelling, interviews, or everyday chats about secrets or hidden facts.

Examples

Here are some examples of Worm sth out of sb in a sentence:

• It took a long time, but I finally wormed the details out of her about the surprise party.
• He tried to worm the answer out of his friend without making it obvious.
• Can you worm the truth out of your brother about where he was last night?
• The detective wormed the confession out of the suspect after hours of questioning.
• She’s good at worming secrets out of people without them realizing it.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition. Here are some common mistakes and the correct forms:

• Incorrect: Worm out the secret of him.
• Correct: Worm the secret out of him.
• Incorrect: Worm something from somebody (wrong preposition)
• Correct: Worm something out of somebody.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “dig out,” “get out of,” and “fish for.” However, “worm sth out of sb” specifically implies a slow, careful process to get reluctant information.

• Dig out: To find or discover something with effort, but not necessarily from a person.
• Get out of: To obtain something, sometimes by persuasion but can be direct.
• Fish for: To try to get information by asking indirect questions.

Compared to these, “worm sth out of sb” suggests more persistence and subtlety.

Common Collocations

People often use “worm sth out of sb” with words related to information or secrets. Here are some common collocations:

• Worm the truth out of someone – get honest information
• Worm a secret out of someone – find out a hidden fact
• Worm details out of someone – obtain specific information
• Worm a confession out of someone – get someone to admit something

Real-life Dialogue

Imagine a conversation between two friends:

Anna: Did you find out what happened at the meeting?

Ben: Not yet. I’m trying to worm the details out of Sarah, but she’s being really secretive.

Anna: Keep trying! She’ll tell you eventually.

Practice

Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of the phrasal verb:

• She managed to ______ the truth ______ him after hours of talking.
• Can you ______ any information ______ your brother about the project?
• The journalist tried to ______ a secret ______ the politician.

FAQ

• Q: Is “worm sth out of sb” formal or informal?
  A: It is informal and often used in everyday speech.
• Q: Can I use “worm” without “out of”?
  A: No, the full phrase “worm out of” is necessary to express this meaning.
• Q: What type of information can I worm out of someone?
  A: Secrets, details, confessions, or any information they are reluctant to share.
• Q: Is this phrasal verb separable?
  A: Yes, you can place the object between “worm” and “out.”
• Q: Can this phrase be used in written English?
  A: It’s more common in spoken or informal written English.