Phrasal verb
peel out
Definition
phrasal verb. to drive away very fast from a stop, making the tires spin and make a loud noise.
phrasal verb. to accelerate a motor vehicle rapidly from a stationary position, typically resulting in the tires spinning and emitting a screeching sound. The verb is intransitive in this sense.
Examples
“The driver decided to peel out at the green light.”
“The teenagers wanted to impress their friends, so they would often peel out of the school parking lot.”
“The getaway car was seen to peel out from the alleyway, leaving behind a cloud of acrid smoke and black tire marks on the pavement.”
Examples
simple
“The driver decided to peel out at the green light.”
contextual
“The teenagers wanted to impress their friends, so they would often peel out of the school parking lot.”
complex
“The getaway car was seen to peel out from the alleyway, leaving behind a cloud of acrid smoke and black tire marks on the pavement.”
Usage
This phrase is almost exclusively used when talking about cars or motorcycles.
Teaching tip
Use this to teach the 'burn rubber' idiom, as both describe the same noisy, high-speed start.
Pitfall
He peeled out his shirt.
He peeled off his shirt.
Learners confuse 'peel out' with 'peel off', which means to remove a layer of clothing.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
peel + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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