Fall out meaning
Fall out means to argue with someone and stop being friends. It can also mean to come loose and drop, used for teeth, hair or things in a bag.
fall out
fall out · fell · fallen · falling
I fell out with my best friend over money.
Fall out meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Argue with someone and stop being friends
fall out
- I fell out with my best friend over money.
- My brothers fell out years ago and never talk.
- Have you two fallen out? You’re very quiet.
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2
Come loose and drop, used for teeth, hair or things in a bag
fall out
- My daughter’s first tooth fell out today.
- His hair started to fall out when he was thirty.
- My keys must have fallen out of my pocket.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use fall out in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is fall out separable?
Fall out has no object. Use with for the person and over or about for the reason: I fell out with Sam over a game.
The noun falling-out means an argument: We had a falling-out. Fallout, one word, is something different: the bad results of an event, or radioactive dust.
Verb tenses for fall out
| Present | I fall out · she falls out |
|---|---|
| Past | fell out |
| Present perfect | have fallen out |
| -ing form | falling out |
Common mistakes with fall out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I fell out my sister last year.
Right: I fell out with my sister last year.
Use with before the person.
Wrong: I’m falling out with Tom since Monday.
Right: I’ve fallen out with Tom. We haven’t spoken since Monday.
For a state that started in the past, use the present perfect: have fallen out.
Wrong: My hair is falling down.
Right: My hair is falling out.
Hair and teeth fall out.
Synonyms and opposites of fall out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- have a rowUK, have a noisy argument
- break upend a romantic relationship
- arguedisagree with angry words, but maybe stay friends
Opposite
- make upbecome friends again after an argument
- get onUK, have a friendly relationship
Fall out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Jo and Kim ___ last year and haven’t spoken since.
Fall out means argue and stop being friends.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use fall out with someone over something.
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3“Mum, my tooth fell out!” What happened?
A tooth falls out when it comes loose and drops.
More phrasal verbs with fall
All phrasal verbs with fall, by level, with an exercise
6 phrasal verbs start with fall. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Fall out FAQ
Questions people ask about fall out.
What is the difference between fall out and break up?
Fall out is an argument between friends or family. Break up is the end of a romantic relationship.
What does falling-out mean?
A falling-out is an argument that damages a friendship: They had a falling-out over the wedding.
Is fall out British?
It is most common in British English. In US English, people also say have a falling-out or stop talking.
Use fall out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.