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Vocabulary : Phrasal Verbs : B : butt out

butt out American English Informal

Meaning: If you want to tell someone quite forcefully to mind their own business, you can tell them to butt out.

For example:

  • butt out I was having an argument with my girlfriend when Pete told us to cool it, so I told him to butt out.

  • butt out My sons were having a fight about something when their older sister tried to get them to stop. They both got angry with her and told her to butt out.

Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz:

If someone tells you to butt out, you should probably
  1. tell them to shut up
  2. stop talking
  3. call the police

Grammar explanation: separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

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