leave the premises

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave the premises" is a phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It is a polite way of telling someone to go or exit an area or premises, such as a building or property. For example, "Please leave the premises by 6 pm. Thank you for understanding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Owan asked him to leave the premises.

The New Yorker

He would have to leave the premises at once.

The New York Times

So at festival screenings — A. I literally leave the premises.

The New York Times

Ms. Jones would leave the premises by June 30.

The New York Times

Before I could even answer "an American, sir" he demanded I leave the premises immediately.

The New York Times - Sports

"As soon as I leave the premises, I really don't think about it," he said.

The New York Times

We were never told the video was not to leave the premises.

The Guardian

But if food is your chief raison d'être, you may leave the premises slightly dissatisfied.

The New York Times

Alas security guards politely told guests they could not leave the premises with the goods.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We're coming back here with miniature pickaxes," promises a gleeful Lycett as we leave the premises.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

As at Promises, clients who leave the premises are accompanied.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "leave the premises", be clear about the timeframe for departure to avoid misunderstandings. For instance, specify "You must leave the premises immediately" or "Please leave the premises by the end of the day".

Common error

Avoid vagueness when using "leave the premises". Always ensure the context clearly defines which premises you're referring to, especially in multi-building complexes or large properties. For instance, specify "leave the main building" or "leave the property grounds" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave the premises" functions as an imperative or directive, typically used to instruct or order someone to exit a specific location. As Ludwig AI confirms, its common usage reinforces this direct function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leave the premises" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to instruct someone to depart from a location. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves as a directive, and its frequency is considered very common across various sources, particularly in news and media. The phrase is best suited for neutral to formal contexts, where clear instructions are necessary. While informal alternatives exist, they may lack the politeness and authority conveyed by "leave the premises". Therefore, understanding the appropriate context ensures effective communication and avoids misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exit the property

Replaces "premises" with "property", focusing on the physical space being vacated.

vacate the building

Specifies the type of location as a "building", making it more specific than "premises".

depart from the location

Uses more formal language like "depart" instead of "leave", and "location" for "premises".

be removed from the site

Implies a forced departure, emphasizing the act of being removed.

get out of here

An informal way of telling someone to leave, often used in conversational contexts.

clear out

A simple, direct way to instruct someone to leave or empty a space.

take your leave

A formal and polite way of saying goodbye and departing.

withdraw from the area

Suggests a more deliberate or strategic departure.

be escorted offsite

Implies a supervised or forced removal from the location.

go away

A direct and sometimes impolite way to tell someone to leave.

FAQs

How do you use "leave the premises" in a sentence?

You can use "leave the premises" to politely or formally instruct someone to exit a location. For example, "The security guard asked the trespasser to leave the premises immediately."

What's a more informal way to say "leave the premises"?

Informal alternatives to "leave the premises" include "get out of here" or "go away", though these can be considered rude depending on the context.

What does it mean to be "escorted offsite"?

Being "escorted offsite" implies a supervised or forced removal from a location, often by security or law enforcement. It's a more forceful way of saying "leave the premises".

When is it appropriate to use "leave the premises"?

"Leave the premises" is suitable for formal situations where you need to instruct someone to exit a location, such as in legal notices, employment terminations, or when addressing trespassers.