shut out

What does "shut out" mean?

1. To prevent someone from entering
2. To exclude or block someone
3. To defeat without allowing any points

Examples

• She shut him out of her life after the betrayal.
• Don't shut out your feelings.
• The team shut out their opponents 3-0.
• He felt shut out of the conversation.
• Close the blinds to shut out the light.

How to use it

'Shutout' (noun) in sports means winning without opponent scoring. Emotionally, 'shut out' means exclude.

Word order

Object can go between: 'shut someone out' or after: 'shut out someone'.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• shut up

  To stop talking (impolite command)

• shut down

  To close a business permanently

• shut off

  To stop the flow or operation of something

• get out

  To leave a place, room, or vehicle

• turn out

  To have a particular result or end in a certain way

• go out

  To leave your home for social activities or entertainment