Hear me out means listen to me, let me finish. Out adds the idea of “to the end”: don't interrupt and don't decide until I've finished. That's why people use it to introduce a surprising idea or a controversial opinion, and on social media, a confession others might laugh at: hear me out… pineapple on pizza is great. The phrase is informal but not rude: it's fine with friends and colleagues but not in an essay, and in IELTS Speaking, Let me explain sounds more natural.
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hear me out: + idea/opinion; hear me out before you + verb; hear someone out
- ok hear me out: we skip the cinema and cook dinner at mine instead
- I know you hate the idea, but hear me out before you decide.
- hear me out… socks with sandals are actually really comfy
What changed
First versionPlease hear me until the end before you say no.
RevisionPlease hear me out before you say no.
It's tempting to say “to the end” in so many words: hear me until the end. But in this phrase, out already means “to the end”, so until the end is replaced by that one word.
Listen to me asks for attention right now: Listen to me, the train leaves at six. Hear me out asks you not to judge until you've heard everything: Hear me out before you say no. The pronoun goes between hear and out: hear him out, not hear out him.
Your turn
I know my plan sounds crazy, but please ___ before you say no.
Show the answer
hear me out — You're asking not to be turned down until you've finished, which is exactly hear me out. Listen me is a mistake: listen needs to before the person you're listening to, as in listen to me.
Write a message to a friend suggesting an unexpected plan for the weekend: start with hear me out, and name the plan and one reason.
hear me out: let's go camping this saturday instead of the mall, because the weather will be perfect.
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