rule out: meaning and explanation
If you rule something out, then you eliminate it as an option and no longer consider it. e.g. I think we can rule out having the Christmas party on the roof terrace of The Shard – we just can’t afford it this year.
Ruling something out can also be used to say that something is impossible, or definitely won’t happen. e.g. During his speech, the Prime Minister ruled out the possibility of stepping down before the next election.
This phrasal verb is often used with the noun ‘possibility’ – to rule out the possibility of something happening.
This phrasal verb is often use negatively to say that something is still an option or a possibility. e.g. I think it is unlikely that we’ll be making additional redundancies this year, but I wouldn’t rule it out completely.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Micro-listening #1
Accent: North America
About the sentence
…someone started the fire deliberately…
Deliberately is a useful synonym of on purpose or intentionally.
Micro-listening #2
Accent: England (RP)
About the sentence
…I suppose this train strike…
The verb to suppose can be used to introduce something that you consider to be probable or likely. e.g. You’re going out, are you? I suppose you want me to pick you up later on.
Micro-listening #3
Accent: Ireland
About the sentence
…he hasn’t ruled it out entirely…
The present perfect is used here to talk about an unfinished period of time. He hasn’t ruled it out yet, but may in the future.
Extra practice
Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:
- Think about your life over the next 5 years. Is there anything that you think definitely won’t happen?
- Do you have any plans for the weekend? Is there anything that you are not considering as an option?
Photo by Stephen Radford on Unsplash
