sour out

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence 'Sour out' is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
To express disappointment or exasperation, it is better to use phrases such as "soured" or "soured out" (e.g. "My plans soured out when my car wouldn't start").

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Desormeaux had gone sour out West and needed to be reminded what it felt like to be on a good horse.

The New York Times - Sports

Later that night Leonardo, our guide and later my new "friend", drove me and a bottle of Pisco Sour out into the desert to look at the stars.

The Guardian - Travel

Milk gets the taste of sour out of your mouth, so does cheese.

WikiHow

Remember brush really hard, And you should get the sour out of your mouth really fast.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

You soured out on your end.

Huffington Post

As it turned out, the sour economy was not the only problem to plague the Essex House.

The New York Times

But he said he believed, whatever the cost and however sour things have turned out, that the original vision was right.

The New York Times

The soft texture, subtle tannins and floral notes of the extra-dry pinot noir rosé made it go well with nearly everything from the pan-fried pork and pumpkin dumplings to the sweet and sour pork (which turned out to be one of the hardest dishes to pair).

The New York Times - Arts

Like it's not exactly bad but it also tastes like someone tried to make a beer that has the same notes as wine and the thing turned out really sour and cloudy but they were too far into the brewing process to back out so just put it in a bottle and marked it up at £18 so nobody would ever buy it and find out".

Vice

When business soured, the friend turned out to be not so much of a friend after all, and disappeared.

The New York Times

But the mood quickly soured when it turned out that many households on the "time of use" rate plan actually paid more than ordinary ones.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives like "turned sour" or "didn't work out" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "sour out" in formal writing, as it isn't a recognized idiom. Instead, opt for established phrases to maintain professionalism and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sour out" functions primarily as a verb phrase, though its usage is questionable. According to Ludwig, it's not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English, which limits its effective functionality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

67%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sour out" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and is not a standard idiom in English. Ludwig AI points out that it is better to use alternatives like "soured", "turned sour", or other contextually appropriate phrases such as "didn't work out" or "fell through". While "sour out" may occasionally appear in informal contexts, it's best avoided in formal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness. The limited examples available highlight its infrequent and questionable usage, making alternatives a safer choice for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turned sour

Focuses on the process of becoming unpleasant or negative.

gone bad

Implies a state of decay or failure, often in a more general sense.

fell through

Specifically relates to plans or arrangements that did not materialize.

didn't work out

Indicates a lack of success or a failure to achieve a desired result.

ended poorly

Highlights a negative conclusion or result.

took a turn for the worse

Indicates a sudden decline or deterioration in circumstances.

became unpleasant

Emphasizes the shift to an undesirable or disagreeable state.

degenerated

Implies a decline in quality or condition, often over time.

evaporated

Indicates the disappearance or loss of something, like hope or enthusiasm.

crumbled

Suggests a collapse or breakdown, often referring to plans or relationships.

FAQs

How can I use "turned sour" in a sentence?

You can use "turned sour" to describe a situation or relationship that has become unpleasant. For example, "Their business partnership "turned sour" after a disagreement over finances."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "sour out"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "gone bad", "fell through", or "didn't work out" as more grammatically sound alternatives.

Is "sour out" grammatically correct?

The phrase "sour out" is not generally considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "soured" or "turned sour" to convey the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "soured" and "sour out"?

"Soured" is a verb that describes something becoming unpleasant. While "sour out" might be encountered, it's not a standard or widely accepted phrase. Using "soured" is the clearer and more grammatically correct choice.