ask out

Meaning

To invite someone on a romantic date. This is a very common phrasal verb used in casual, daily English. You can separate the verb and the particle with a pronoun, such as in 'ask her out' or 'ask him out.'

Examples

• I finally got the courage to ask her out for coffee.

  I finally got the courage to ask her out for coffee.

• He's been wanting to ask you out for weeks, you know.

  He's been wanting to ask you out for weeks, you know.

• Are you going to ask him out, or should I?

  Are you going to ask him out, or should I?

• She asked me out to the movies last night, and we had a great time.

  She asked me out to the movies last night, and we had a great time.

• If you like him, just ask him out before someone else does!

  If you like him, just ask him out before someone else does!

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I asked out her yesterday.

  ✓ I asked her out yesterday.

  When using a pronoun like 'her', 'him', or 'them' with 'ask out', the pronoun must go in the middle of the phrasal verb, not at the end.

• ✗ He asked me out to a date.

  ✓ He asked me out on a date.

  We say 'ask someone out on a date', using the preposition 'on'. However, you can say 'ask someone out for coffee' or 'ask someone out to dinner'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I really want to ___ her ___ but I'm too nervous.

  💡 A phrasal verb meaning to invite someone on a romantic date.

  Show answer

  ask out

• Did he finally ___ you ___ last night?

  💡 Fill in the split phrasal verb meaning to invite someone on a date.

  Show answer

  ask out