Exit vs I told you to leave me

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Exit

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

I told you to leave me

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Exit
 ExitI told you to leave me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksɪt//ˈeɡzɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksɪt//ˈeɡzɪt/"]/🇬🇧 //aɪ toʊld juː tə liːv miː//🇺🇸 //aɪ toʊld ju tə liv mi//
Meaningthe way out of a placeI asked you to go away from me.
ExamplePlease locate the nearest exit in case of an emergency.After everything that happened, I told you to leave me.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsback, rear, side, head for, make for, bolt for, sign, door, gate, to the exit, towards/​toward the exit, exit from, freeway, highway, interstate, get off at, take, ramp, point, exit for, exit to, fast, hasty, quick, make, visa, poll, plan, exit fromtold you to leave, leave me alone, leave me be, told me to go, asked you to stay away
Antonymsentrance, entry-
Common mistakesConfused with 'exceed' or 'exile', Using 'exiting' incorrectly as a gerund when an action is not intended, Misplacing 'exit' in sentences, leading to awkward phrasingLearners might omit 'I told you' and just say 'leave me.', Confusing it with 'let me leave,' which means to allow oneself to go., Using it in a friendly context instead of when feeling upset or annoyed.
Usage notesUse 'exit' when talking about leaving a place, especially in directions or instructions. Avoid in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'leave' might fit better.This phrase is used when someone is expressing a desire for privacy or solitude. It is direct and may not be polite in all situations.

See it in real clips

Exit
I told you to leave me

Frequently asked questions: Exit vs I told you to leave me

What's the difference between Exit and I told you to leave me?

Exit: the way out of a place I told you to leave me: I asked you to go away from me.

Which is more common: Exit and I told you to leave me?

Exit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Exit: Please locate the nearest exit in case of an emergency. I told you to leave me: After everything that happened, I told you to leave me.

Can I use Exit and I told you to leave me interchangeably?

Not always. Exit and I told you to leave me are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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