fall out with someone
To have an argument and stop being friendly
Literalmente: To drop out of a container or position with another person
Use 'fall out with' when a friendship ends or pauses due to a significant disagreement.
Em 15 segundos
- To have a serious argument and stop being friends.
- Used for friends, family, or close colleagues.
- Implies you are no longer on speaking terms.
Significado
This phrase describes when you have a big fight with a friend or family member and you stop talking to them. It is that awkward period where you are no longer on friendly terms because of a disagreement.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Talking about an old friend
I fell out with Mark over a silly debt, and we haven't spoken since.
I had an argument with Mark about money and we stopped being friends.
Explaining office tension
Management and the staff have fallen out over the new holiday policy.
The bosses and employees are having a major disagreement.
Texting a sibling about parents
Did Mum and Aunt Joan fall out again? They're being so quiet.
Did Mom and Aunt Joan have another fight?
Contexto cultural
The phrase dates back to at least the 16th century, where 'falling out' meant a departure from the normal path of agreement. In many English-speaking cultures, particularly in the UK, admitting to a 'falling out' is a way of signaling a private matter that you might not want to discuss in detail.
The 'Bit' Trick
If you want to sound more British and less dramatic, say you had 'a bit of a falling out.' It makes the fight sound less scary.
Don't trip!
Be careful not to say 'fall out of.' If you 'fall out of' a car, you need a doctor. If you 'fall out with' a person, you need an apology!
Em 15 segundos
- To have a serious argument and stop being friends.
- Used for friends, family, or close colleagues.
- Implies you are no longer on speaking terms.
What It Means
Imagine you and a friend are in a cozy boat of friendship. When you fall out, it is like someone tumbled overboard. You are no longer in the same boat together. It means a disagreement was so bad that you stopped being friends. It is not just a small tiff. It is a break in the relationship.
How To Use It
You usually say you fell out with someone. You can also say two people had a falling out. It is a phrasal verb, so the tense changes. You might say, "I fell out with him years ago." It describes the event and the resulting silence. It is very common in British and American English.
When To Use It
Use this when explaining why you do not see someone anymore. It is perfect for juicy gossip with a best friend. Use it when a colleague asks why you and Dave are not speaking. It works for family drama or broken romances. It is great for describing the end of a chapter. Use it when the silence is intentional.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for a tiny, five-minute argument. If you are still going to dinner later, you did not fall out. Avoid using it for professional contract disputes. In a courtroom, you would say "breach of contract" instead. Do not use it for physical objects falling. If your phone drops, it just fell. It does not have feelings!
Cultural Background
English speakers value the idea of "keeping the peace." A falling out is seen as a significant social event. In the UK, it often implies a long, cold silence. In the US, it might involve more shouting before the silence. The phrase has been around since the 1500s. It originally meant to happen or occur, then shifted to mean a quarrel.
Common Variations
The most common variation is the noun form: a falling out. You might say, "We had a bit of a falling out." Adding "a bit of a" makes it sound more polite. You can also say you are at loggerheads. But fall out is the most natural way to say it. It is the bread and butter of social drama.
Notas de uso
This is a neutral-to-informal phrase. It is perfectly safe for most social and semi-professional situations, but avoid it in strictly legal or very formal academic writing.
The 'Bit' Trick
If you want to sound more British and less dramatic, say you had 'a bit of a falling out.' It makes the fight sound less scary.
Don't trip!
Be careful not to say 'fall out of.' If you 'fall out of' a car, you need a doctor. If you 'fall out with' a person, you need an apology!
The Silent Treatment
In English culture, 'falling out' almost always implies that you are no longer speaking. Silence is the key ingredient.
Exemplos
6I fell out with Mark over a silly debt, and we haven't spoken since.
I had an argument with Mark about money and we stopped being friends.
Shows a long-term consequence of an argument.
Management and the staff have fallen out over the new holiday policy.
The bosses and employees are having a major disagreement.
Used here to describe a group conflict.
Did Mum and Aunt Joan fall out again? They're being so quiet.
Did Mom and Aunt Joan have another fight?
Casual inquiry about family drama.
My cat and the neighbor's dog have finally fallen out over the sunny spot.
My cat and the dog are no longer friends because of the sun.
Personifies animals for a funny effect.
The band fell out during their last tour and decided to split up.
The band members fought and decided to stop working together.
Commonly used in media and entertainment news.
I hate falling out with you; can we please just talk?
I hate it when we fight and stop being friendly.
Expresses a desire to fix the relationship.
Teste-se
Choose the correct preposition to complete the idiom.
I don't want to fall ___ with my sister over something so small.
The idiom is specifically 'fall out with someone'.
Select the best phrase for a professional but personal explanation.
We used to be close, but we had a ___ a few years ago.
'A falling out' is the noun form used to describe the event of a major argument.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality of 'Fall out'
Beefing
We're beefing right now.
Fall out
I fell out with my bestie.
Estranged
He is currently estranged from his family.
When to say 'Fall out'
Family Feud
Siblings fighting over an inheritance.
Friendship Drama
Best friends stop talking after a lie.
Work Conflict
Partners disagreeing on a business move.
Celebrity News
A famous duo stops following each other.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNot exactly. An argue is the shouting part, but a fall out is the result—the end of the friendship or the period of not talking.
Yes, but it usually implies a break-up or a very serious period of not speaking, like We fell out over his constant lateness.
Use fell out for the past tense (We fell out yesterday) and have fallen out for the present perfect (We have fallen out recently).
It can be used for business partners or teams, such as The board fell out with the CEO, but it sounds a bit personal.
The best opposite is to make up, which means to become friends again after a fight.
Usually, we use it for people. However, you can say you fell out with the brand if you had a very bad experience and stopped using them.
Yes, it is used in both US and UK English, though the noun form a falling out is very popular in the US.
Almost always. If you are still chatting happily, you haven't fallen out yet.
You can, but it sounds dramatic. If you fall out over a pizza topping, it implies the friendship is quite fragile!
Beef is slang and often implies a more aggressive or public rivalry, while fall out is more neutral and common.
Frases relacionadas
to be at odds
To disagree strongly with someone.
to make up
To become friends again after a fight.
to see eye to eye
To agree with someone (the opposite of falling out).
to burn bridges
To end a relationship so badly that you can never go back.
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