Phrasal Verbs

butt out

This page is about the phrasal verb 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

a. tell them to shut up

b. stop talking

c. call the police
a) tell them to shut up b) stop talking c) call the police

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context

Contributor: Matt Errey