Meaning trap
fall out
result as consequence
To happen or occur as a direct or indirect result of something, especially in formal or abstract contexts.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To happen or occur as a direct or indirect result of something, especially in formal or abstract contexts.
'fall out' also has the more basic meaning 'have an argument and stop being friendly'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Several unexpected challenges fell out of the committee's decision to restructure the department.consequences
- It is important to consider the social and economic changes that may fall out of implementing such a policy.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: fall out (of/from something)
WrongWe'll see how it falls out from this.
RightWe'll see how things fall out. / how it turns out.
This formal sense is intransitive — 'how things fall out', no 'from this'.
Patternfall out (of/from something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Fall out' meaning 'turn out / result' is a formal, mostly written usage; in speech people just say 'how it turns out'.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
how things fall outhow it falls outas it fell outeventsmatters
Don't confuse it
This sense is abstract and formal, describing results or consequences, unlike the B1 sense which refers to personal relationships breaking down after an argument.
Related
- fall out (have an argument and stop being friendly) — 'fall out' also has the more basic meaning 'have an argument and stop being friendly'; this is the advanced sense.