crawl out

USAGE SUMMARY

"crawl out" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone moving out of a confined space, such as a hole or a cave, by crawling. For example, "He had to crawl out of the narrow hole in order to escape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And then they can't crawl out again.

Cornell University

"I was then able to crawl out," he said.

The Guardian

"We did our best to crawl out," he said.

The New York Times

Sometimes they begin a movement there, then crawl out to become startling, sharp-edged humans again.

The New York Times - Arts

There's no commercial imperative to crawl out on that limb.

Forbes

"It demonstrates that the plesiosaur gives live birth and did not crawl out on land [to lay eggs].

Evolution: Education and Outreach

It will disappear inside it and crawl out again when it's had some fun hiding away.

WikiHow

They can literally crawl out.

Independent

We'll crawl out of it".

The New York Times

They had to crawl out.

The Guardian

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crawl out" when you want to emphasize the physical act of moving on hands and knees from a confined space, or when metaphorically describing a slow and arduous recovery from a difficult situation. For instance, "After the accident, he had to crawl out of the wreckage" or "The company is slowly trying to crawl out of debt."

Common error

Avoid using "crawl out" when a more direct verb like 'exit' or 'leave' would be more appropriate, especially in formal contexts. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound less professional or unnecessarily dramatic. Instead of saying, "He crawled out of the meeting early", consider "He left the meeting early".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "crawl out" primarily functions as a verb of motion, describing the action of moving from a confined or enclosed space by crawling. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in both literal and figurative contexts, referring to physical movement or metaphorical escape.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crawl out" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe both the physical act of crawling out of a confined space and the metaphorical process of recovering from a difficult situation. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in academic and wiki sources. While generally neutral in register, writers should consider more formal alternatives in certain professional settings. The phrase is a common and useful addition to any writer's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emerge from

Focuses on the act of coming out into view, often from a hidden or enclosed place.

clamber out

Emphasizes the effort and difficulty in climbing out of something.

wriggle free

Suggests escaping by twisting and turning, often from a tight spot.

extricate oneself

Highlights the act of freeing oneself from a difficult situation or entanglement.

break free

Implies escaping from captivity or restraint with force or determination.

surface from

Describes coming to the surface after being submerged, either literally or figuratively.

escape from

General term for getting away from a dangerous or unpleasant situation.

get out

A simpler, more informal way of saying "crawl out", indicating leaving a place or situation.

pull through

Focuses on recovering from a difficult experience or illness.

recover from

Emphasizes the process of returning to a normal state after a setback or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "crawl out" in a sentence?

You can use "crawl out" to describe the literal action of crawling out of a space, like "The baby learned to crawl out of her crib". It can also be used figuratively, such as "The economy is trying to crawl out of recession".

What are some alternatives to "crawl out"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "emerge from", "escape from", or "recover from".

Is "crawl out" formal or informal?

"Crawl out" is generally considered to be a neutral to informal phrase. In highly formal writing, consider using a more precise or elevated vocabulary, such as "extricate oneself".

What does it mean to "crawl out of my skin"?

The expression "crawl out of my skin" means to feel extremely uncomfortable, anxious, or restless. It suggests a strong desire to escape an unpleasant situation or feeling.