Today is our first Tuesday in August and our post today is again about phrasal verbs. This time it’s a very, but very common phrasal verb: to turn out.

As you may expect, this phrasal verb has several meaning and oftentimes it’s not very easy to know when to use one or the other, so pay extra attention when you’re reading and listening to English because turn out is almost certain to show up (see? another phrasal verb!).

So let’s start!

The first meaning of turn out is to say that something happen in a particular or specific way and usually has a result that we didn’t expect. Things can turn out well, badly, fine, etc. Here are some examples:

It was a difficult time, but eventually things turned out all right.
Obviously, I’m disappointed at the way things have turned out.
To my surprise, it turned out that I was wrong.
I’m sure it will all turn out well in the end.
As it turned out (= as a result, in the end), he passed the exam quite easily.
As it turned out, the storm missed Puerto Rico.
That guy turned out to be Maria’s second cousin. (= it was somewhat of a surprise that he was her cousin, we didn’t expect it)
I’m sure it will all turn out well in the end.
It turns out that I was right all along. (=in the end, the important thing was…)

You can also turn the lights out!

Don’t forget to turn out the lights when you go!

If a lot of people turn out for an event, they go to watch it or take part in it:

About 70% of the population turned out for the election.
Thousands turned out to watch yesterday’s match against Ireland.
Only 62% of the electorate turned out to vote.

With this meaning, we also have the noun turnout , the number of people who go to a party, meeting, or other organized event and also the number of voters in an election:

I was disappointed by the turnout for our home match.
Sunny weather helped boost the turnout at Sunday’s rally.
We’re expecting quite a low turnout for the local elections.

To turn something out also means to produce or make (factories, etc.). It’s also used when you remove all the contents from somewhere, such as a purse or your pocket:

The company turns out 2,000 small planes a year.
The policeman made him turn out his pockets.

Now, to turn someone out means to force them to leave a place, especially their home:

Our landlord turned us out on the street.
If they don’t pay, they could be turned out of the house.
If you can’t pay the rent, they turn you out.

This is it for today! See you next time!

Examples taken and adapted from the Longman and Macmillan online dictionaries.