turf out
C1Informal, chiefly British and Australian
Definition
Meaning
To eject or remove someone or something forcefully from a place.
To force someone to leave a position, organization, or premises, often in a brusque or unceremonious manner; to discard something unwanted.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase implies a degree of force, often abruptness or finality. It can apply to people (e.g., from a pub, meeting, home) or objects (e.g., junk). It is sometimes synonymous with 'chuck out' or 'throw out.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Turf out' is predominantly British/Australian/NZ English. In American English, 'kick out,' 'throw out,' or 'boot out' are more common for the same core meaning.
Connotations
In British usage, it often carries a connotation of being thrown out of a social venue (like a pub) or one's home. It can be slightly humorous or colloquial rather than brutally violent.
Frequency
High frequency in UK informal speech; low to negligible frequency in mainstream US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S + turf out + O (person/thing)S + turf + O + out + of + LOCATIONS + get/be turfed out + (of LOCATION)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “turf someone out on their ear (to eject someone humiliatingly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used informally: 'The new CEO turfed out the old management team.'
Academic
Extremely rare; too informal.
Everyday
Common in UK/AU/NZ informal contexts for removing people from places or discarding items.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The landlord threatened to turf us out if we were late with the rent again.
- I'm going to turf out all these old magazines to make space.
- He was turfed out of the party for starting a fight.
American English
- The bouncer kicked him out of the bar for being too rowdy. (US equivalent)
- We need to throw out this broken furniture. (US equivalent)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher turfed the noisy student out of the classroom.
- We should turf out these old clothes.
- After the argument, he was turfed out of the meeting by the chairperson.
- The council plans to turf out the illegal occupants from the building.
- The shareholders successfully turfed out the entire board of directors following the scandal.
- Despite his protests, he found himself turfed out of the exclusive club for violating the dress code.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a football fan being thrown out of the stadium, landing on the TURF (grass) OUTside the gates.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION/REMOVAL IS PHYSICAL DISPLACEMENT (like removing a piece of turf/sod).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation ('выдернуть дерн'). It is an idiom. The closest equivalents are 'вышвырнуть' or 'выгнать.'
- Do not confuse with 'turf' as in lawn or territory.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal US contexts.
- Incorrect particle order: 'turf out him' (should be 'turf him out').
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'turf out' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and direct, implying a lack of ceremony, so it can sound rude depending on context. It's less formal than 'ask to leave' or 'escort out.'
Yes, it can be used for discarding objects, similar to 'throw out' (e.g., 'turf out the garbage').
They are very close synonyms in their core meaning. 'Kick out' is used in both British and American English, while 'turf out' is primarily British. 'Kick out' can sometimes imply more aggression.
It is a separable phrasal verb: 'turf [someone/something] out' or 'turf out [something]'. The passive form is common: 'He was turfed out.'