Meaning trap
wear out
make someone exhausted
To make someone very tired, especially after a lot of activity or effort.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To make someone very tired, especially after a lot of activity or effort.
Another meaning of 'wear out' is 'become unusable'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Looking after three young children all day really wears me out.daily life
- Many students say that preparing for exams can wear them out, especially if they don't take enough breaks.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: wear out (sb) / wear (sb) out
WrongThe kids wear out me.
RightThe kids wear me out.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'wear me out'.
Patternwear out (sb) / wear (sb) out
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Wear out' is the natural verb for being worn down by effort; 'fatigued' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
wear out + personme outthe kidscompletelyexhausted
Don't confuse it
Not about objects; this sense is only for people or animals.
Related
- wear out (become unusable) — Another meaning of 'wear out' is 'become unusable'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.