SHUT OUT is a phrasal verb that means ‘to exclude’ something or someone. The two words are separable in a sentence.
Here are some examples:
– It is hard to work as a funeral director. You have to SHUT your feelings OUT to deal with all the sadness and death you see every day.
(This is referring to an emotional exclusion to make things easier for yourself.)
– Liverpool FC played really well against Manchester City yesterday. They managed to SHUT the other players OUT and score 2 goals.
(This is referring to a physical exclusion, which was done as a tactical approach to preventing the other team from scoring, and winning the game themselves.)
– Jenny had SHUT her ex-boyfriend OUT completely, but he still wouldn’t understand that she didn’t love him anymore.
(This is referring to an emotional and physical exclusion. She had blocked him from her life completely, in the sense of avoiding any communication and emotional exchanges.)
SHUTOUT written as one whole word is a noun, which refers to a game or contest in which one side does not score. This can also mean to forestall the bidding of an opponent by placing a very high or pre-emptive bid or score.
– All the fans were disappointed, as this was their third shutout game in a row.
– Liverpool FC beat Chelsea FC in a 7-0 shutout.
