1.figure ... out p.v. [the object can be a noun or a noun clause] When you figure out something, such as the answer to a question, the solution to a problem, or why a person is a certain way or acts a certain way, you think about and succeed in under¬standing it.

Joe's so hostile all the time. I can't figure him out.

I looked everywhere for my keys, but I couldn't figure out where I put them.

2. screw... out of p.v. [informal] When you get money or something valuable from people in a dishonest way, you screw them out of it.

That con man screwed me out of my life savings.

Their sleazy son-in-law screwed them out of thousands of dollars.

3. find ... out p.v. [not usually separated - the object can be a noun, a noun clause, or a complete sentence] When you find out information or a fact, you learn or become aware of that information or fact.

If you don't know when the movie starts, look in the newspaper to find out.

I met a nice man at the party, but I never found out his name.

I met a nice man at the party, but I never found out what his name was.

I was surprised when I found out that he can speak fourteen languages.

I was surprised when I found out he can speak fourteen languages.

I tried to get the information, but I couldn't find it out.

4. get out of p.v. When you get out of something or get out of doing something you must do but do not want to do, you find a way to avoid it.

Sam got out of gym class by pretending to be sick.

The boss wants me to work a double shift, but I'll get out of it.

I got out of going to church with my parents by pretending to be sick.

get... out of p.v. If an activity gives you pleasure, satisfaction, or some other benefit, you get pleasure, satisfaction, or some other benefit out of it.

I sat through that boring class for three months and didn't learn a thing. I didn't get anything out of it.

The judge didn't get any pleasure out of imposing such a harsh penalty.

get... out of p.v. When you use force, pressure, or deceit to get something, such as information or money, from people, you get it out of them.

They tortured him for days, but they couldn't get any information out of him.

It took me a while, but I got the whole story out of her.

5. let ...out p.v. When you allow animals or people to leave a place by giving permission or opening a door, you let them out.

The guard lets the prisoners out of their cells every day at 1:00.

I opened the door and let the dog out.

let... out p.v. When you make an item of clothing bigger by changing the seams, you

let it out.

After I gained twenty pounds, I had to have all my pants let out.

The tailor let her old dress out so that she could wear it again.

let... out p.v. When you reveal secret or sensitive information, you let it out.

This information is secret. Don't let it out.

I was furious when my secretary let out that I had interviewed for a new position.

let out p.v. When you make a sound that shows your emotion or feelings, you let out that sound.

Heather knew Jim was lying again, and let out a sigh.

The lion let out a loud roar before he attacked the hunter.

6. point... out p.v. When you bring things or people to someone's attention or indicate the location of things or people with your hand or index finger, you point them out.

As we walked through the museum, the tour guide pointed several famous paintings out.

General Johnston showed the satellite photo to the reporter and pointed out the enemy tanks.

point ...out p.v. When you are writing or speaking and you stress or emphasize some important information you think the reader or listener needs to know, you point out the information.

I pointed several flaws out in Prof. Childress's theory.

He said that he thought my plan was basically good but that he wanted to point out several possible problems.

7. burn out p.v. When a fire, candle, or other flame stops burning because it has no more fuel, it burns out.

We need more wood; the fire has burned out.

Don't worry; the sun won't burn out for another four billion years.

burned-out part.adj. After a fire, candle, or other flame stops burning because it has no more fuel, it is burned-out.

The burned-out rocket landed in the ocean.

burned-out part.adj. When people are extremely tired, either physically or psycho¬logically, because of stress or hard work, they are burned-out.

Teaching those awful students for so many years has left him burned-out.

Taking care of four small children day after day would leave any mother burned-out.

burn out p.v. When a light bulb stops producing light because it has reached the end of its useful life, it burns out.

These new bulbs are guaranteed not to burn out for ten years. I can't see what I'm doing because this bulb has burned out.

burned-out part.adj. A light bulb that no longer produces light because it has reached the end of its useful life is burned-out.

/ climbed the ladder and unscrewed the burned-out bulb.

burn ...out p.v. When people are forced to leave their home or some other shelter or hiding place because of fire or fire damage, they are burned out.

The only way to get the enemy soldiers out of the tunnels was to burn them out.

Seven families were burned out of their homes by the huge fire.

burned-out part.adj. Something that has been damaged or destroyed by fire is burned-out.

After the war, nothing was left but burned-out cars and buildings.

8. pick... out p.v. When you choose something from a group because you prefer it to the others in the group, you pick it out.

Have you picked out a dress to wear to the party yet?

Mike's dog had puppies, and he asked me to pick one out.

pick... out p.v. When you are able to find and recognize something in a group, you pick it out.

Even though the class photo was fifty years old, I picked my father out easily. The police detective asked me if I could pick the mugger out from a group of photos.

9. break out (of) p.v. When you escape from a place where you are a prisoner, you break out or break out of that place.

Bubba broke out of prison last month.

The police have been looking for him ever since he broke out.

breakout n. An escape from prison is a breakout.

There hasn't been a successful breakout from the state prison in more than twenty-five years.

breakout p.v. When fighting begins suddenly, it breaks out.

Rioting broke out after the general canceled the election.

Millions wilt be killed if nuclear war breaks out.

10. chicken out (of) p.v. [informal] When you do not do something because you are afraid, you chicken out or chicken out of it.

/ was going to ask Heather to go to the dance with me, but I chickened out. Miguel's mad at himself because he chickened out of asking his boss for a raise yesterday.

11. take ... out (of) p.v. When you take something out or take it out of a container, storage place, or building, you remove it. Put in/into is the opposite of take out.

/ want to take some books out of the library tonight. Jake took out a gun and shouted, "This is a holdup!" Nancy took $500 out of the bank.

takeout n. Takeout is food that is taken from a restaurant to be eaten at another location. Carryout and carry-out food are the same as takeout and take-out food.

/ don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's get takeout. That take-out chicken is good, but it sure is greasy.

take ...out (of) p.v. When you remove something because you do not want it or because it is damaged, you take it out or take it out of something. Put in/into is the opposite of take out.

The teacher said my story would be a lot better if! took this part out of the third paragraph.

The school will be closed while the asbestos insulation is being taken out and replaced.

take... out (of) p.v. When you take money out or take money out of a bank or a bank account, you withdraw the money. Put in is the opposite of take out.

/ had to take money out of my savings account to pay for my medical bills.

Nicole's at the bank taking $ 1,000 out.

take.. .out p.v. When you take people out/you go with them to do something enjoyable - dinner in a restaurant, a movie, and so on - and pay for it yourself.

What do you think about taking Mom out for Mother's Day?

Jim took his girlfriend out last Friday.

take.. .out p.v. [informal] When you take people out, you kill them.

The snipers will try to take out the kidnapper when he opens the door.

The hit man took Vito out with a shotgun blast to the head.

1. try... out p.v. When you try something out, you try it to see if you want to buy it or to see if you want to start using it regularly.

I'm not going to spend $2,000 on a bicycle unless I try it out first. You can try it out for thirty days without any obligation.

tryout n. When you give something a tryout,you test it to see if you want to buy it or start using it regularly.

/ gave Betty's new diet a tryout, but I actually gained weight.

The airline gave the new plane a thorough tryout before making a decision.

2. try... out p.v. When you try people out, you give them a chance to show that they can perform a job well before hiring them or before giving them more difficult work to do.

The manager agreed to try him out for a week.

I told the supervisor that if she tried me out, she'd see that I could do the job.

tryout n. When you give people a tryout, you give them a chance to show that they can perform a job well before giving them more difficult work to do.

Tryouts for the football team will be next Saturday and Sunday.

If you give Mike a tryout, I'm sure you won't be disappointed

3. try out (for) p.v. When you try out or try out for something, you try to show that you can perform a job well in order to get hired.

A lot of guys will try out, but only a handful will make the team.

Daniela's mother told her, "Trying out for the cheerleading squad isn't as important as doing your homework."

1. work out p.v. When a situation works out a certain way, it happens that way. When a situation does not work out, it is not satisfactory.

The switch to the new system worked out a lot better than anyone expected.

She said that living with her in-laws wasn't working out very well.

2. work out p.v. When a situation works out, the end result is successful.

Yes, I thought your idea was terrible, but I must admit it worked out.

The marriage didn't work out, and they were divorced after six months.

3. work out p.v. When a calculation or measurement works out to be a certain amount, this amount is the result of the calculation or measurement.

The cost of the booze we need for the reception works out to more than $ 1,500.

The monthly payment on a 6 percent loan works out to $642.

4. work... out p.v. When you work out a calculation, measurement, or other problem, you do the work necessary to determine the result of the calculation or measurement or think about how to solve the problem.

Driving to Alaska sure gave this old truck a workout.

The snack bar got a real workout when three buses full of hungry tourists stopped at the same time.

Maria worked out bow much paint we will need for the living room - twenty-five gallons.

I've forgotten how to work out math problems without a calculator.

You need to go to the airport, I need to go to work, and we have only one car. How are we going to work this out?

5. work out p.v. When you work out a solution or plan, you decide what to do after careful consideration, either alone or in discussion with other people.

The opposing lawyers worked out a compromise.

I think I've worked out a way to buy a new car without borrowing money.

6. work out p.v. When you exercise in order to improve your health or physical appearance, you work out.

Bob works out in the gym for two hours every night. I'm a fat slob.

I need to start working out again.

workout n. A series of exercises done in order to improve your health or physical appearance is a workout. Workout clothes are clothes you wear while exercising.

I'm really sore from that workout last night. The trainer designed a workout for each player on the team.

workout n. When you say that you gave a mechanical device or system a workout, you mean that you caused it to perform some lengthy or difficult work,

1. sign ... out p.v. When you sign out, you write your name on a list to show that

you have left your workplace or some other place, such as a hotel or club.

Jim isn't here. He signed out at 5:06.

Dr. Wood usually forgets to sign out when she leaves the dink.

2. sign ... out p.v. When you sign something out, such as a book or something

valuable or important, you write your name on a list to show that you have borrowed

the item and are responsible for returning it.

The professor signed the book out of the rare book room.

Remember to sign out your lab equipment before chemistry class.

1. fill... out p.v. When you fill out a form, you put information in the correct spaces. Fill in is the same as fill out.

The personnel director asked Sofia to fill out an application.

Fill the withdrawal slip out and give it to the teller.

filled out partadj. After all the information is in the correct spaces of a form, the form is filled out.

Here's my application; it's all filled out. Are these forms blank or filled out?

2. fill... out p.v. When slender people gain weight, they fill out.

Jake was really thin when he got out of prison, but he has really filled out since then.

Nicole started to fill out after she started working at the candy shop.

1. dry ...out p.v. When something dries out or something dries it out, all the water or other liquid in it goes away.

Before you put this tent away, be sure you dry it out. After the flood, it took weeks for our house to dry out.

dried out part.adj. After all the water or other liquid in something goes away, it is dried out.

My skin always gets dried out in the winter.

We shampooed our carpet a week ago, and it's still not dried out.

1..grow out of p.v. When people become too tall or too big to wear an item of clothing, they grow out of the item of clothing.

/ bought Susie's shoes one size too big, but she's quickly growing out of them.

Do you want these clothes for your daughter? Mine has grown out of them.

2. grow out of p.v. When people become too mature for a toy, for an interest, or for a form of behavior, they have grown out of it.

Judy had a big crush on a rock star when she was in high school, but after a while she grew out of it.

Jim's son is going through a difficult stage, but he'll grow out of it in a couple of years.

1. start out p.v. When you begin something, you start out. Start out is used to discuss how the end of something was different from its beginning.

The stock market started out in positive territory but closed 200 points lower.

Nancy started out as a secretary, thinking she might have a future with this company, but she doesn't feel that way anymore.

1. take... out on p.v. When you take something out on people, you unfairly criticize or punish them because you are angry about something that has occurred or about something that someone else has done.

If you're mad at your boss, you shouldn't take it out on your wife.

Hey! It's not my fault you got a speeding ticket. Why are you taking it out on me?

1. drop out (of) p.v. When you drop out or drop out of a school, a training course, or other program, you leave before completing it.

The program is very difficult, and about 70 percent of the students drop out.

Linda's father was very disappointed when she dropped out of college.

dropout n. A dropout is someone who has left school, usually high school or col¬lege, before graduating.

Many successful people are college dropouts.

1. hold ... out p.v. When you hold out your hand, you extend it in front of your body so that someone can shake hands with you or put something in your hand. Hold out is similar to put out.

Maybe Mr. Young is mad at me. I held out my hand, but he didn't shake it.

The street was filled with beggars holding their hands out.

2. hold out p.v. When a supply of something is enough for your needs, the supply holds out.

The beer held out until the end of the party, but we didn't have enough wine.

This is all the money I have, so it has to hold out until I get paid again.

3. hold out p.v. When you hold out, you resist an attack, pressure, or temptation or you continue to survive in a dangerous situation.

More than 1,000 enemy soldiers attacked the fort. There were only 98 of us inside, but we held out for two weeks.

I haven't had a cigarette in three days, and I don't know how much longer I can hold out.

holdout n. Someone who resists an attack, pressure, or temptation is a holdout.

The enemy soldiers are in control of the country, but there are some holdouts hiding in the mountains.

There are still a few holdouts who don't have credit cards.

4. hold out (for) p.v. When you hold out or hold out for something, you refuse to compromise in a negotiation and accept anything less than your original demands.

The basketball player is holding out for a million dollars a game.

The union spokesman said the union members would hold out until their demands were met.

holdout n. When you refuse to compromise in a negotiation and accept anything less than your original demands, you are a holdout.

All the players have signed contracts except for two holdouts1. stay out p.v. When you stay out, you do not return to your house.

Do you let your kids stay out past 7:00?

I stayed out late last night, and I'm really exhausted.

2. stay out (of) p.v. When you stay out of a place, you do not go inside it.

Your father's busy cooking dinner, so stay out of the kitchen.

You can't come in here. Stay out!

3. stay out (of) p.v. When you stay out of a situation, such as an argument, fight, battle, or war, you do not get involved in it.

This fight doesn't involve you, so stay out.

Jake has stayed out of trouble since he left prison.

1. watch out (for) p.v. When you watch out or watch out for something, you remain alert for someone or something that is dangerous or important. When you tell people to watch out or watch out for something, you are warning them of possible danger. Watch out is the same as look out.

Watch out when you're crossing a busy street.

Karen said she would meet us here at 12:00, so watch out for her.

Watch out! There's a snake in the grass.

I dropped a glass in the kitchen, so watch out for broken glass.

1. print ...out p.v. When you make a computer write something on paper, you print it out.

After I finished writing my letter, I printed it out and signed it.

I can't print this out - my printer is broken.

printout n. When you make a computer write something on paper, the paper is a printout.

/ put the printout of the October sales report on the sales manager's desk.

1. carry... out p.v. When you carry out a duty, task, assignment, or order, you do it.

Sean will carry your duties out while you're on vacation.

The boss was furious because his orders hadn't been carried out.

2. carry... out (of) p.v. When you carry something out of a place, you hold it in your hands and take it from that place.

It took four guys to carry the pool table out.

David was so drunk that we had to carry him out of the bar.

carryout n. Food that you take from a restaurant and eat in another place is carryout or carryout food. Takeout and takeout food are the same as carryout and carryout food.

We usually take carryout food when we go to visit Aunt Kathy.

1. look out (for) p.v. When you look out or look out for something, you remain alert for someone or something that is dangerous or important. When you tell people to look out, you are warning them of possible danger. Look out is the same as watch out.

Look out for bears when you camp in the mountains.

There's a lot of ice on the road, so look out.

lockout n. A lockout is someone who looks out for someone or something that is dangerous or important.

The burglars had lockouts on every corner to warn them if the police came.

1. luck out p.v. [informal] When you luck out, something good happens to you or you avoid something bad happening to you.

Todd lucked out when he found that lottery ticket on the ground; it was a $ 1 million winner.

I missed my flight, and the plane crashed. I guess I lucked out.

1. make ...out p.v. When you can make something out, you can see it or hear it even though it is difficult to do so.

The audio system is so bad in the bus station that I can never make out what the speakers are saying. I think that might be a mountain goat up there near the top of the mountain. I can just barely make it out with these binoculars.

2. make... out p.v. [always used with "to be"] When you make people or things out to be a certain way or a certain thing, you describe or consider them to be this way or to be this thing.

Stop complaining - my food isn't as bad as you make it out to be.

The critics made the film out to be a real bore, but I liked it.

3. make... out (to) p.v. When you write the necessary information on the front of a check, you make the check out. When you write the name of a person, company, or other organization on the check, you make the check out to that person, company, or organization.

How should I make this check out?

There must be a mistake; this check is made out to my brother, not to me.

Nancy made a check out to the IPS for $ 17,000.

made out part.adj. After the necessary information has been written on the front of a check, the check is made out.

Is the check made out, or is it blank?

4. make out (on) p.v. When you make out or make out on something, you do something successfully or survive a situation even though it may be difficult.

Karen had a job interview yesterday. I wonder how she made out.

Even though Jerry has lost his job, we'll make out somehow.

How did you make out on the test yesterday?

1. lock... out (of) p.v. When you lock people out or lock people out of a place, you lock a door or gate so that they cannot enter a room, building, or other place.

The Youngs got home and found that their son had locked them out of their house.

I hide an extra key under the bumper of my car so that I won't get locked out.

locked out part.adj. When people cannot enter a room, building, or other place because the door or gate is locked, they are locked out.

We're locked out; we'll just have to wait outside until someone comes home.

2. lock... out p.v. When a business locks out workers, the workers are prohibited from working by the business management.

Management locked the workers out after they refused to sign the new contract.

When the owners heard talk of a strike, they locked the employees out.

locked out part.adj. After a business locks out workers in order to prohibit them from working, the workers are locked out.

We're locked out. How can we earn a living?

lockout n. When a business locks out workers in order to prohibit them from working, it is a lockout.

The lockout lasted for three months.

1. punch ... out p.v. When you leave your workplace and put your time card in the time clock to record the time you have left, you punch out.

Sally's not at work; she punched out at 5:08. Jim usually forgets, so his boss punches him out.

punched out part.adj. When you are punched out, you are not at your workplace, or if you are there, you are off duty and not being paid.

The manager asked why I wasn't working, and I told him I was punched out.

1. put... out p.v. When you extinguish a fire or something that is burning, you put it out.

Put that cigarette out immediately.

It was two hours before the fire was put out.

2. put ...out p.v. When you take something from inside a building or storage place and leave it outside for someone to take, use, or deal with, you put it out.

The garbage truck comes early tomorrow morning, so put the trash bags out tonight.

Judy put some clothes out for her daughter to wear the next day.

3. put... out p.v. When you put out your hand, arm, foot, or leg, you extend it front of your body.

Mike put out his leg and tripped me.

I put my hand out, but she refused to shake it.

4^ut... out p.v. When you put yourself out, you try very hard to help someone.

Sofia really put herself out to make her new daughter-in-law feel welcome.

Don't put yourself out. I can make my own dinner.

5. put ...out p.v. When you put people out, you inconvenience them.

Erik really put Bill out when he asked him for a ride to the airport at 3:00 in the morning.

You've done so much to help me. I'm sorry to have put you out.

6. put out p.v. When you are put out by people, you are annoyed by something they have said or done.

/ was really put out by having to take a taxi to work because Mike hadn't returned my car.

Dan was put out by Sam's ungrateful attitude.

put out part.adj. When you are annoyed by something that someone has said or done, you are put out.

Maria's put out; the manager thanked everyone who worked on the project except her.

7. put... out p.v. When a book, magazine, newspaper, or musical recording is published or issued, it is put out.

The publisher is planning to put a new magazine out that will appeal to teenage girls.

Frank Sinatra put out several classic recordings in the 1950s.

1. lock... out (of) p.v. When you lock people out or lock people out of a place, you lock a door or gate so that they cannot enter a room, building, or other place.

The Youngs got home and found that their son had locked them out of their house.

I hide an extra key under the bumper of my car so that I won't get locked out.

locked out part.adj. When people cannot enter a room, building, or other place because the door or gate is locked, they are locked out.

We're locked out; we'll just have to wait outside until someone comes home.

2. lock... out p.v. When a business locks out workers, the workers are prohibited from working by the business management.

Management locked the workers out after they refused to sign the new contract.

When the owners heard talk of a strike, they locked the employees out.

locked out part.adj. After a business locks out workers in order to prohibit them from working, the workers are locked out.

We're locked out. How can we earn a living?

lockout n. When a business locks out workers in order to prohibit them from working, it is a lockout.

The lockout lasted for three months.

1. punch ... out p.v. When you leave your workplace and put your time card in the time clock to record the time you have left, you punch out.

Sally's not at work; she punched out at 5:08. Jim usually forgets, so his boss punches him out.

punched out part.adj. When you are punched out, you are not at your workplace, or if you are there, you are off duty and not being paid.

The manager asked why I wasn't working, and I told him I was punched out.

1. put... out p.v. When you extinguish a fire or something that is burning, you put it out.

Put that cigarette out immediately.

It was two hours before the fire was put out.

2. put ...out p.v. When you take something from inside a building or storage place and leave it outside for someone to take, use, or deal with, you put it out.

The garbage truck comes early tomorrow morning, so put the trash bags out tonight.

Judy put some clothes out for her daughter to wear the next day.

3. put... out p.v. When you put out your hand, arm, foot, or leg, you extend it front of your body.

Mike put out his leg and tripped me.

I put my hand out, but she refused to shake it.

4^ut... out p.v. When you put yourself out, you try very hard to help someone.

Sofia really put herself out to make her new daughter-in-law feel welcome.

Don't put yourself out. I can make my own dinner.

5. put ...out p.v. When you put people out, you inconvenience them.

Erik really put Bill out when he asked him for a ride to the airport at 3:00 in the morning.

You've done so much to help me. I'm sorry to have put you out.

6. put out p.v. When you are put out by people, you are annoyed by something they have said or done.

/ was really put out by having to take a taxi to work because Mike hadn't returned my car.

Dan was put out by Sam's ungrateful attitude.

put out part.adj. When you are annoyed by something that someone has said or done, you are put out.

Maria's put out; the manager thanked everyone who worked on the project except her.

7. put... out p.v. When a book, magazine, newspaper, or musical recording is published or issued, it is put out.

The publisher is planning to put a new magazine out that will appeal to teenage girls.

Frank Sinatra put out several classic recordings in the 1950s.

1. sort... out p.v. When you sort a group of things out, you separate them into smaller groups according to one or more characteristics.

After you take the laundry out of the dryer, you have to sort it out.

The mail arrives at the post office alt mixed together, and it has to be sorted out before it can be delivered.

sorted out part.adj. After you separate things into smaller groups according to one or more characteristics, they are sorted out.

The mail is sorted out and ready to be delivered.

2. sort... out p.v. When you do something to solve a problem or to correct a misunderstanding, you sort it out.

Janice was angry with me about what happened last night, but I called her and we sorted everything out.

Everyone is confused about the new plan. We ought to talk to Mrs. Taytor and sort everything out.

sorted out part.adj. After you do something to solve a problem or to correct a misunderstanding, it is sorted out.

Mike and Tom had a big fight, but everything is sorted out now.

1. space... out p.v. [informal-used mostly by young people] When you space out or when something spaces you out, something or someone confuses you and causes you to forget what you were saying or doing at that moment.

This place is really weird - it's spacing me out. Sorry, what did you say? I wasn't listening - I spaced out.

spaced-out part.adj. When something or someone confuses you and causes you to forget what you were saying or doing at that moment, you are spaced-out.

Half of what Jerry says doesn't make any sense; he's all spaced-out.

wash up

1. cut... out (of) p.v. When you cut something out or cut something out of a piece of paper, cloth, or other material, you use scissors or a knife to remove part of it.

The bank robber had a pillowIcase over his head with two holes cut out.

I cut an interesting story out of the newspaper to show to my father.

cutout n. Something that has been cut out of a piece of paper, cloth, or other material is a cutout.

Timmy made some cardboard cutouts shaped like animals.

2. cut... out p.v. When you cut out part of a film, television program, book, magazine, and so on, you remove that part.

The movie was too long, so the director cut a couple of scenes out. Before the book was published, the parts that were critical of the king had to be cut out of Chapter 4.

3. cut... out p.v. When you cut out something that you consume, you stop using it. When you cut out doing something, you stop doing it. When you say "Cut it out" to people, you want them to stop doing or saying something.

Smoking is the first thing you've got to cut out if you want to improve your health.

If you want to lose weight, you'll have to cut cookies and ice cream out.

It bothers me when you do that, so cut it out!

4. cut out p.v. When a motor suddenly stops working, it cuts out.

I was driving when the motor suddenly cut out.

This plane has only one engine, so if it cuts out, we're in big trouble.

1. clean ...out p.v. When you clean something out, you clean the inside completely so that no dirt, dust, trash, and so on, remains inside.

Mark was fired and told to clean his desk out and leave.

We clean out our garage every spring.

cleaned out part.adj. After you clean the inside of something completely so that no dirt, dust, or trash, and so on, remains inside, it is cleaned out.

Now that the garage is cleaned out, there's room for my car.

2. clean ... out (of) p.v. [informal] When people clean you out or clean you out of your money, they deceive you or pressure

you into giving them all your money or spending all your money for their benefit. When an expense cleans you out, it requires you to spend all your money.

A con artist cleaned my grandmother out of $50,000.

Having three kids in college at the same time really cleaned me out.

3. clean .. .out (of) p.v. [informal] If thieves clean a place out or clean a place out of something, they take everything that is valuable.

I got home and found that my place had been cleaned out.

The thieves cleaned the jewelry store out of all its diamonds and emeralds

1. clear.. .out p.v. When people clear out or clear out of a place or they are cleared out of a place, they leave it.

After the police threw tear gas, the crowd cleared right out.

Clear out! This is private property.

2. clear... out p.v. When you clear out a place, you remove things that are unwanted or in the way in order to make more room or to make the place cleaner.

Look how much more room we have in the attic now that we've cleared all that junk out. The car dealer had a sale so that he could clear out some space for the new cars.

1. come out (of) p.v. When people or things leave a place, room, or house that you are not in, they come out of it.

Susie's friend came to the door and asked her to come out and play.

The police held their fire when they saw the gunman coming out of the house with his hands in the air.

2. come out (of) p.v. When something comes out of a certain place or area, it starts there.

This speaker must not be connected; no sound is coming out.

The most wonderful aroma came out of the kitchen.

3. come out (to) p.v. When people leave a city and come out to a place outside the city where you are, they travel to that place.

Would you like to come out and visit our farm?

Ned loves it in the city; he hasn't come out to the suburbs in a long time.

4. come out (of) p.v. When things or people go through an experience or treatment, the condition they are left in by that experience or treatment or the result of that experience or treatment is how they come out.

It was a tough game, but our team came out on top.

How did the investigation come out?

I came out of that awful experience a wiser person.

5. come out (with) p.v. When a book, magazine, musical recording, movie, or television show is finished and made available to the public, it comes out. When a book, magazine, musical recording, movie, or television show is finished and made available to the public, the company publishing it or the person who created it comes out with it.

The band's new CD came out last month, and it's already number one on the charts.

Barren's is coming out with a new book on TOEFL soon.

6. come out p.v. When information becomes known to the public, it comes out.

Everyone was shocked when it came out that the butler had murdered the duke.

What really happened when President Kennedy was assassinated may never come out.

7. come out (of) p.v. When dirt or a stain is removed by cleaning, it comes out or comes out of what it is in.

Don't get grape juice on that white blouse - it'll never come out.

That paint might come out of the carpet if you try turpentine.

8. come out p.v. When flowers or leaves start to grow, they come out.

We had a very warm winter, and the flowers started coming out in February.

Oak tree leaves always come out later than the leaves of other trees.

9. come out p.v. When clouds move and the sun becomes visible, it comes out.

The rain stopped, the sun came out, and there was a beautiful rainbow.

Wait till the sun comes out; you'll get a better picture.

10. come out (forIin favor ofIagainst) p.v. When people with authority and influence come out for or come out in favor of people or things, they publicly announce support for them. When people with authority and influence come out against people or things, they publicly announce opposition to them.

We were surprised when the mayor came out for legalizing gambling.

The senator from North Carolina came out against the tobacco legislation.

1. empty... out p.v. When you completely remove the contents of a space or container, you empty it out.

The police officer told me to empty out my pockets.

After we empty this room out, we can start painting.

emptied out part.adj. After the contents of a container have been completely removed, the container is emptied out.

Now that the room is emptied out, we can start laying the carpet.

1. empty out p.v. When all the people in a place leave it, the place empties out.

After the concert is over, it'll be twenty minutes before the auditorium empties out.

There was trash everywhere after the stadium emptied out.

1. fall out (of) p.v. When you fall from or through something that is above ground level to the ground below, you fall out or fall out of it.

Did he fall out or was he pushed?

I found a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest.

2. fall out (withIover) p.v. When you fall out with people, you become upset or angry with them. When two people fall out over something, they become upset or angry with each other because of a disagreement about that thing.

Alfonso fell out with his sister when he criticized her husband.

Melanie and Sarah started a company, but they fell out over who would be president and who would be vice-president.

falling-out n. When people have a falling-out, they become upset or angry with each other and no longer have friendly relations.

The manager of the baseball team quit after he had a falling-out with the owner.

1. go out (of) p.v. When people or things leave a place, room, or house that you are in, they go out or go out of it. Come in is the opposite of go out.

I'm trying to study - go out and play in the backyard.

Nancy was so sick that she didn't go out of the house for a week.

2. go out (to) p.v. When people leave a city where you are and go out to a place outside the city, they travel to that place.

Last weekend we went out to Jim's cabin on the lake.

This Thanksgiving I'm going to go out to my brother's house.

3. go out p.v. When something that is burning goes out, it stops burning because it has no more fuel or because something, such as water or lack of oxygen, has caused it to stop burning.

The campfire went out during the night.

The forest fire didn't go out until it started to rain.

4. go out p.v. When an electrical light goes out, it stops producing light because it is no longer receiving power.

The lights in the barracks go out every night at 10:00.

When the old tree fell on the power lines, every light in town went out.

5. go out (with) p.v. When two people with a romantic interest in each other go out, they go together to a place of entertainment in order to have fun and spend time together.

Mike's nervous - he's going out with Heather tonight.

Sally and Jim went out for three years before they qot married.

1. leave... out p.v. When you leave people or things out, you accidentally or deliberately do not include them in a group.

The director left out several parts of the book when she made the film.

Tell me the entire story from beginning to end. Don't leave anything out.

left out part.adj. When you feel left out, you feel ignored and unappreciated by others in a group.

No one talked to Jerry at the party. He just sat in the corner feeling left out.

1. stick out p.v. When something sticks out, it extends from what it is attached to.

Be careful walking in the woods, there are a lot of branches sticking out.

I cut myself on a nail that was sticking out of the wall.

2. stick... out p.v. When you stick something out, you extend it outward.

Timmy stuck his tongue out when his mother gave him spinach.

We all stuck our heads out the window to get a better look.

3. stick... out p.v. When you stick out an unpleasant or difficult experience, you continue with it until it is over, rather than quit.

I hate this job, but I need the money, so I'll just have to stick it out until I find a better one. College isn't easy, but if you stick it out, you'll be glad you did.

4. stick out p.v. When a characteristic or feature of something sticks out, that feature is very noticeable.

Alan's nearly seven feet tall and has red hair, so he really sticks out in a crowd.

One thing that really stuck out about him was the strange way he laughed.

1. clean ...out p.v. When you clean something out, you clean the inside completely so that no dirt, dust, trash, and so on, remains inside.

Mark was fired and told to clean his desk out and leave.

We clean out our garage every spring.

cleaned out part.adj. After you clean the inside of something completely so that no dirt, dust, or trash, and so on, remains inside, it is cleaned out.

Now that the garage is cleaned out, there's room for my car.

2. clean ... out (of) p.v. [informal] When people clean you out or clean you out of your money, they deceive you or pressure

you into giving them all your money or spending all your money for their benefit. When an expense cleans you out, it requires you to spend all your money.

A con artist cleaned my grandmother out of $50,000.

Having three kids in college at the same time really cleaned me out.

3. clean .. .out (of) p.v. [informal] If thieves clean a place out or clean a place out of something, they take everything that is valuable.

I got home and found that my place had been cleaned out.

The thieves cleaned the jewelry store out of all its diamonds and emeralds

1. clear.. .out p.v. When people clear out or clear out of a place or they are cleared out of a place, they leave it.

After the police threw tear gas, the crowd cleared right out.

Clear out! This is private property.

2. clear... out p.v. When you clear out a place, you remove things that are unwanted or in the way in order to make more room or to make the place cleaner.

Look how much more room we have in the attic now that we've cleared all that junk out. The car dealer had a sale so that he could clear out some space for the new cars.

1. come out (of) p.v. When people or things leave a place, room, or house that you are not in, they come out of it.

Susie's friend came to the door and asked her to come out and play.

The police held their fire when they saw the gunman coming out of the house with his hands in the air.

2. come out (of) p.v. When something comes out of a certain place or area, it starts there.

This speaker must not be connected; no sound is coming out.

The most wonderful aroma came out of the kitchen.

3. come out (to) p.v. When people leave a city and come out to a place outside the city where you are, they travel to that place.

Would you like to come out and visit our farm?

Ned loves it in the city; he hasn't come out to the suburbs in a long time.

4. come out (of) p.v. When things or people go through an experience or treatment, the condition they are left in by that experience or treatment or the result of that experience or treatment is how they come out.

It was a tough game, but our team came out on top.

How did the investigation come out?

I came out of that awful experience a wiser person.

5. come out (with) p.v. When a book, magazine, musical recording, movie, or television show is finished and made available to the public, it comes out. When a book, magazine, musical recording, movie, or television show is finished and made available to the public, the company publishing it or the person who created it comes out with it.

The band's new CD came out last month, and it's already number one on the charts.

Barren's is coming out with a new book on TOEFL soon.

6. come out p.v. When information becomes known to the public, it comes out.

Everyone was shocked when it came out that the butler had murdered the duke.

What really happened when President Kennedy was assassinated may never come out.

7. come out (of) p.v. When dirt or a stain is removed by cleaning, it comes out or comes out of what it is in.

Don't get grape juice on that white blouse - it'll never come out.

That paint might come out of the carpet if you try turpentine.

8. come out p.v. When flowers or leaves start to grow, they come out.

We had a very warm winter, and the flowers started coming out in February.

Oak tree leaves always come out later than the leaves of other trees.

9. come out p.v. When clouds move and the sun becomes visible, it comes out.

The rain stopped, the sun came out, and there was a beautiful rainbow.

Wait till the sun comes out; you'll get a better picture.

10. come out (forIin favor ofIagainst) p.v. When people with authority and influence come out for or come out in favor of people or things, they publicly announce support for them. When people with authority and influence come out against people or things, they publicly announce opposition to them.

We were surprised when the mayor came out for legalizing gambling.

The senator from North Carolina came out against the tobacco legislation.

1. empty... out p.v. When you completely remove the contents of a space or container, you empty it out.

The police officer told me to empty out my pockets.

After we empty this room out, we can start painting.

emptied out part.adj. After the contents of a container have been completely removed, the container is emptied out.

Now that the room is emptied out, we can start laying the carpet.

1. empty out p.v. When all the people in a place leave it, the place empties out.

After the concert is over, it'll be twenty minutes before the auditorium empties out.

There was trash everywhere after the stadium emptied out.

1. fall out (of) p.v. When you fall from or through something that is above ground level to the ground below, you fall out or fall out of it.

Did he fall out or was he pushed?

I found a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest.

2. fall out (withIover) p.v. When you fall out with people, you become upset or angry with them. When two people fall out over something, they become upset or angry with each other because of a disagreement about that thing.

Alfonso fell out with his sister when he criticized her husband.

Melanie and Sarah started a company, but they fell out over who would be president and who would be vice-president.

falling-out n. When people have a falling-out, they become upset or angry with each other and no longer have friendly relations.

The manager of the baseball team quit after he had a falling-out with the owner.

1. go out (of) p.v. When people or things leave a place, room, or house that you are in, they go out or go out of it. Come in is the opposite of go out.

I'm trying to study - go out and play in the backyard.

Nancy was so sick that she didn't go out of the house for a week.

2. go out (to) p.v. When people leave a city where you are and go out to a place outside the city, they travel to that place.

Last weekend we went out to Jim's cabin on the lake.

This Thanksgiving I'm going to go out to my brother's house.

3. go out p.v. When something that is burning goes out, it stops burning because it has no more fuel or because something, such as water or lack of oxygen, has caused it to stop burning.

The campfire went out during the night.

The forest fire didn't go out until it started to rain.

4. go out p.v. When an electrical light goes out, it stops producing light because it is no longer receiving power.

The lights in the barracks go out every night at 10:00.

When the old tree fell on the power lines, every light in town went out.

5. go out (with) p.v. When two people with a romantic interest in each other go out, they go together to a place of entertainment in order to have fun and spend time together.

Mike's nervous - he's going out with Heather tonight.

Sally and Jim went out for three years before they qot married.

1. leave... out p.v. When you leave people or things out, you accidentally or deliberately do not include them in a group.

The director left out several parts of the book when she made the film.

Tell me the entire story from beginning to end. Don't leave anything out.

left out part.adj. When you feel left out, you feel ignored and unappreciated by others in a group.

No one talked to Jerry at the party. He just sat in the corner feeling left out.

1. stick out p.v. When something sticks out, it extends from what it is attached to.

Be careful walking in the woods, there are a lot of branches sticking out.

I cut myself on a nail that was sticking out of the wall.

2. stick... out p.v. When you stick something out, you extend it outward.

Timmy stuck his tongue out when his mother gave him spinach.

We all stuck our heads out the window to get a better look.

3. stick... out p.v. When you stick out an unpleasant or difficult experience, you continue with it until it is over, rather than quit.

I hate this job, but I need the money, so I'll just have to stick it out until I find a better one. College isn't easy, but if you stick it out, you'll be glad you did.

4. stick out p.v. When a characteristic or feature of something sticks out, that feature is very noticeable.

Alan's nearly seven feet tall and has red hair, so he really sticks out in a crowd.

One thing that really stuck out about him was the strange way he laughed.

1. help... out (with) p.v. When you help out or help people out, you assist them in doing some work or you lend or give them money or something else that they need.

Can you help me out? I need a hundred bucks until payday.

We had a lot of work to do, so Maria helped out.

1. hang out p.v. [informal] When you hang out at a place, you spend time there without any important purpose. Hang around is similar to hang out.

Doesn't Nancy have a job? It seems as if she hangs out at the beach every day.

I don't have anyplace to go. Do you mind if I hang out here for a while?

hangout n. [informal] A hangout is a place where you spend time without any important purpose.

The police closed the bar, saying it was a hangout for crooks and gang members.

1. sell out (of) [often passive] p.v. When a store sells out of something or is sold out of something, it sells all of it.

The toy store sold out of antigravity boots in two days.

I wanted to buy that new computer game, but every store I went to was sold out of it.

sold out part.adj. After all of something for sale in a store has been sold, the item is sold out.

I saw the most beautiful shoes at the mall, but my size was all sold out.

sold out part.adj. After all the tickets to a concert, play, or other public performance have been sold, the event is sold out.

You'll never get a ticket for the Superbowl - it's been sold out for weeks.

or say something that causes them to act more responsibly. When you straighten out people who are confused, you help them to understand.

I told my son that if he gets in trouble one more time, I'm going to send him to military school. That really straightened him out.

I'm totally confused about what I'm supposed to do. Can you straighten me out?

1. straighten ... out p.v. When something is bent, crooked, or curved and you make it straight, you straighten it out.

My elbow is so swollen that I can't straighten my arm out.

As the city grew, many of the winding streets were straightened out.

2. straighten ... out p.v. When you straighten out a confused situation or misun¬derstanding, you take steps to make it understandable and satisfactory to everyone involved. Sort out is similar to straighten out.

My hotel had me booked for the wrong days in the wrong room, but the manager straightened everything out.

Save your questions for the meeting. Everything will be straightened out then.

straightened out part.adj. After a confused situation or misunderstanding has been made understandable and satisfactory to everyone involved, it is straightened out. Sorted out is similar to straightened out.

Erik was upset with Dan, but they had a talk and now everything is straightened out.

3. straighten ... out p.v. When you straighten out people who are acting foolishly, you do

1. wipe... out p.v. When you remove dirt or liquid from the inside of a container with a cloth, sponge, or paper towel, you wipe it out.

Wipe the microwave out - it's got spaghetti sauce inside it.

I wiped out the inside of the glasses so they wouldn't dry with spots.

2. wipe... out p.v. When you are trying to kill people, weeds, insects, and so on, and you kill all of them, you wipe them out.

An entire regiment was wiped out in the battle.

The general said he would wipe out the rebels.

wipeout n. A situation in which all people, weeds, insects, and so on, are killed is a wipeout.

The battle was a complete wipeout. Not a single soldier survived.

1. burst out p.v. When you burst out laughing or crying, you begin laughing or crying loudly and suddenly.

Heather burst out laughing when I fell into the swimming pool.

When Sam heard the news, he burst out crying.

1. check out (of) p.v. When you pay your bill, return your key, and leave a hotel, you check out or check out of the hotel.

There's always a long line of people waiting to check out at that time of the morning.

Mrs. Gorcia checked out of her hotel and took a taxi to the airport.

checked out part.adj. After you have paid your bill, returned your key, and left a hotel, you are checked out.

Okay, we're checked out; now let's get a taxi and go to the airport.

checkout n. The time before which you must check out of a hotel in order to avoid paying for another day is the checkout time.

We can sleep late tomorrow; checkout time isn't until 1:00 P.M.

1. check... out p.v. When you check a place or thing out, you inspect it carefully or learn more about it.

That new Mexican restaurant is great - you should check it out.

Hey George, check out that car Toad is driving. When did he buy it?

3. check ... out p.v. When you check people out, you investigate them in order to learn more about them. If you say that people check out, you mean that the information they have given you about themselves, such as their education and work experience, has been investigated and found to be accurate.

Applicants for child care jobs should be thoroughly checked out.

Before you give that guy money to invest, you should check him out.

Frank didn't get the job he wanted with the CIA. Some things on his resume didn't check out.

4. check out p.v. When you check out at a store, you bring the items you want to buy to the cashier and pay for them.

The store's closing in a few minutes. We'd better check out.

Look at this line. It's going to take forever to check out.

checkout n. The checkout or the checkout counter is where you pay for items in a store.

You get the bathroom stuff, I'll get the groceries, and we'll meet at the checkout counter.

1. sneak out (of) p.v. When you leave a place without anyone seeing or hearing you, you sneak out or sneak out of the place.

Susie's father told her to stay upstairs in her room, but she sneaked out through the window.

The principal caught me sneaking out of my chemistry class.

1. get out (of) p.v. When you get out or get out of a place, building, room, car, boat, and so on, you leave or escape from it.

When Bob heard his car's engine making a strange noise, he got out and looked under the hood.

We smelled gas and got out of the building just seconds before it exploded.

2. get out (to) p.v. When you go to a place that is west of where you are or to a place outside a large city, you get out or get out to that place.

l love it here in the city. I almost never get out to the suburbs anymore.

I told my friend in New York, "If you ever get out to California, please visit me."

3. get... out (of) p.v. When you get people out or get them out of a place, you take them out or you arrange for them to leave.

The soldiers were surrounded, so they called for a helicopter to get them out.

After Hank was arrested, his lawyer got him out of jail.

4. get... out (of) p.v. When you get out or get out of a dangerous, awkward, or difficult situation, you avoid it. When you get people out of a dangerous, awkward, or difficult situation, you help them to avoid it.

Erik made a date with two girls for the same night. How is he going to get out of this mess?

You got me into this mess - you get me out!

5. get... out (of) p.v. When you get something out or get something out of a container or place, you remove it.

Mother's coming for dinner tonight, so let's get the good china out.

The videotape is jammed; I can't get it out of the VCR.

6. get... out (of) p.v. When you get dirt or a stain out or get dirt or a stain out of a material, you remove it by cleaning.

This detergent's ad claims it'll get dirt out even in cold water.

Do you think bleach will get this wine stain out of my white blouse?

7. get out p.v. When information gets out, it becomes known to people who are not supposed to know it.

Be careful - we'll be in a lot of trouble if this information gets out.

There was a huge scandal after the news got out.

8. get out (of) p.v. When you leave your house and do things that are relaxing and fun, you get out or get out of the house.

You work too hard; you should get out more.

Ned doesn't get out of the house much; he prefers to stay home and play computer games.

1. blow... out p.v. When a flame blows out or is blown out by a strong wind, it stops burning. When you blow out a flame, you use your breath to make the flame stop burning.

Don't open the window - the candles will blow out.

I couldn't light my cigarette; the wind kept blowing the match out.

The stove isn't working. Maybe the pilot light has blown out.

2. blow ...out (of) p.v. When something is moved outward away from where it was by an explosion or a very strong wind, it is blown out or blown out of where it was before.

The force of the explosion blew all the windows out.

Look, there's a dead bird. The wind might have blown it out of its nest.

blowout n. When a tire bursts and suddenly loses its air while you are driving, you have a blowout.

Maria had a blowout while she was driving, lost control of her car, and hit a tree.

3. blow... out p.v. When a piece of electrical equipment or a fuse blows out, it fails because too much electricity is passing through it.

Don't be surprised if the fuse blows out - you have seven lights, your computer, and your TV all plugged into one outlet.

When lightning hit our house, it blew all the telephones out.

1. give ...out (to) p.v. When you distribute something to other people, you give it out or give it out to them. Hand out is similar to give out.

They gave out free hats to the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium.

The aid workers would have given more food out to the famine victims, but they didn't have enough.

2. give out (on) p.v. When a mechanical or electrical device stops working, it gives out or gives out on you. When a supply of something is completely used, it gives out or gives out on you.

The explorers tost their way in the desert and died after their water gave out.

I bought a Chevrolet in 1964 and drove it more than 300,000 miles before it finally gave out on me.

1. gross ...out p.v. [informal] When something grosses you out, it upsets you or makes you sick because you think it is disgusting.

You had to dissect a cadaver in your biology class? Yuk, that would've really grossed me out.

Alex hates changing his little brother's diapers - it grosses him out.

grossed out part.adj. When something upsets you or makes you sick because you think it is disgusting, you are grossed out.

l was eating an apple, and I found half a worm in it. I was so grossed out that I almost threw up. head toward

1. kick... out (of) p.v. When you kick people out or kick people out of a group, place, building, room, and so on, you order them to leave. Throw out is similar to kick out.

David drank too much and got himself kicked out of the bar.

Bob's in our car pool, but he's always arguing with the other guys about something, so we're going to kick him out.

1. stress... out p.v. [informal] When people or things stress you out, they make you worried, nervous, or tense.

Having that new manager around watching me all the time is stressing me out.

Sally's sister has to take care of quadruplets all day without any help. That must stress her out.

stressed-out part.adj. When you are worried, nervous, or tense, you are stressed-out.

l had to make a speech at work today, and I was so stressed-out afterward that I took the rest of the day off.

1. turn out p.v. [usually followed by "to be" plus an adjective, an infinitive verb plus a noun, or a complete sentence] When things or people turn out to be a certain way, it is discovered or considered that they are that way. When things or people turn out to be something, it is discovered or considered that they are that thing. When you say that it turns out (that) or turned out (that) and then make a statement of fact, you mean that this information, which is contrary to what you believed or expected, was discovered to be true.

l didn't think I would like my brother's new wife, but she turned out to be very nice.

Before I met Rusty's son, Danny, I assumed he had red hair like his father, but Danny turned out to have black hair.

I thought Sam bought a Mercedes-Benz, but it turns out that he bought a BMW.

I thought Sam bought a Mercedes-Benz, but it turned out that he bought a BMW.

2. turn out p.v. When something turns out, it becomes what you want it to become. When something turns out a certain way, it becomes that way.

Did the pictures you took at the wedding turn out?

The pictures turned out perfectly.

Your plan was excellent, but it didn't turn out well.

3. turn... out p.v. When people, companies, factories, workshops, and so on, turn out something, they manufacture it or produce it.

This new factory will turn out 50,000 units per year.

High schools in America are turning out people who can barely read.

4. turn out (for) p.v. When people turn out or turn out for an event, they attend or participate in the event. When people turn out to do something, they go to a place to do it.

Are you nuts? How many people do you think would turn out for an outdoor concert In the middle of winter?

Thousands of people turned out to see the Pope when he visited.

turnout n. The number of people who attend or participate in an event is the turnout.

Voter turnout for the election was only around 30 percent.

1. turn out p.v. [usually followed by "to be" plus an adjective, an infinitive verb plus a noun, or a complete sentence] When things or people turn out to be a certain way, it is discovered or considered that they are that way. When things or people turn out to be something, it is discovered or considered that they are that thing. When you say that it turns out (that) or turned out (that) and then make a statement of fact, you mean that this information, which is contrary to what you believed or expected, was discovered to be true.

l didn't think I would like my brother's new wife, but she turned out to be very nice.

Before I met Rusty's son, Danny, I assumed he had red hair like his father, but Danny turned out to have black hair.

I thought Sam bought a Mercedes-Benz, but it turns out that he bought a BMW.

I thought Sam bought a Mercedes-Benz, but it turned out that he bought a BMW.

2. turn out p.v. When something turns out, it becomes what you want it to become. When something turns out a certain way, it becomes that way.

Did the pictures you took at the wedding turn out?

The pictures turned out perfectly.

Your plan was excellent, but it didn't turn out well.

3. turn... out p.v. When people, companies, factories, workshops, and so on, turn out something, they manufacture it or produce it.

This new factory will turn out 50,000 units per year.

High schools in America are turning out people who can barely read.

4. turn out (for) p.v. When people turn out or turn out for an event, they attend or participate in the event. When people turn out to do something, they go to a place to do it.

Are you nuts? How many people do you think would turn out for an outdoor concert In the middle of winter?

Thousands of people turned out to see the Pope when he visited.

turnout n. The number of people who attend or participate in an event is the turnout.

Voter turnout for the election was only around 30 percent.

1. con ... out of p.v. [informal] When you con people out of something, you per¬suade them to give it to you by fooling or deceiving them.

Marvin conned them out of their life savings.

That crooked mechanic tried to con me out of $547.

1. freak... out p.v. [informal] When you freak out, you become very upset or very angry. When you freak other people out, you cause them to become very upset or very angry.

Melanie freaked out when she learned that her husband had been arrested for murder.

I wish you would take that Halloween mask off- you're freaking me out.

1. talk... out of p.v. When you talk people out of something or talk people out of doing something, you persuade them not to do it.

That man was going to jump off the building, but the police officer talked him out of it.

Erik's parents talked him out of changing his major from business to philosophy.

1. move out (of) p.v. When you move out or move out of a place, you take your furniture and other personal possessions out of a place where you lived. Move inlinto is the opposite of move out.

Could you help me move out? I have to be out by the end of the month.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker moved out of their big house and into a smaller place after their children grew up.

1. move... out (of) p.v. When you move people out or move them out of a place, you take their furniture and other personal possessions out of a place where they lived. When you move things out or move them out of a place, you take them out. Move inlinto is the opposite of move out.

One of our roommates wasn't paying his rent, so we moved his stuff out while he was at work.

The company had a sale to try to move some merchandise out of the warehouse.

1. pull out (of) p.v. When a car, truck, or other vehicle pulls out or pulls out of a

parking space, it leaves the place where it was parked and starts driving in the street. When the drivers of cars, trucks, or other vehicles pull out or pull out of a parking space, they leave the place where they were parked and start driving in the street.

The accident happened when the Ford pulled out in front of the Chevy.

You should fasten your seat belt before you pull out of the parking space.

2. pull out (of) p.v. When you pull out or pull out of an agreement or arrangement, you leave it because you decide that you do not want to participate any longer.

The French company reconsidered its agreement to build a plant in Canada and decided to pull out.

I wish I hadn't pulled out of that business deal. Now everyone who stayed in is making a lot of money.

3. pull... out (of) p.v. When soldiers leave a combat zone or an area where combat is likely, they pull out or are pulled out. Go in is the opposite of pull out.

When Sergeant Jones saw the enemy soldiers getting closer, he ordered his men to pull out.

General Johnston pulled all the troops out of the occupied territory.

pullout n. When soldiers leave a combat zone or an area where combat is likely, a pullout takes place.

General Johnston ordered an immediate pullout of all troops in the occupied territory.

1. run out (of) p.v. When people or things run out or run out of a place, room, build¬ing, and so on, they leave it very quickly. Run inlinto is the opposite of run out.

There's Sofia across the street - run out and ask her to come over here.

When I opened the door, the dog ran out of the house.

2. run out (of) p.v. When you do not have any more of something because you have used, consumed, or sold all of it, you run out or run out of it.

I'm sorry I can't give you sugar for your coffee - I've run out.

Sam was late to work this morning because he ran out of gas.

3. run out p.v. When something is completely used, consumed, or sold, it runs out.

l played poker last night, and for a while I was ahead by $3,000. But then my luck ran out, and I ended up losing it all.

My brother is too lazy to look for a job. He asks me for money, and when the money runs out he comes back for more.

1. knock... out p.v. When you knock people out, you hit them hard enough to cause them to lose consciousness. When people are knocked out, they are hit by someone or something hard enough to cause them to lose consciousness.

The boxer knocked his opponent out with a blow to the head.

David fell and hit his head on the sidewalk so hard that it knocked him out.

knockout n. A hit hard enough to cause someone to lose consciousness is a knockout.

At the count often the referee declared a knockout.

2. knock... out p.v. If something knocks you out, it impresses or surprises you a lot.

Tom's new house is fabulous! It really knocked me out.

The Youngs'daughter is only twelve and she's already in college? That just knocks me out.

knockout n. A knockout is something that impresses or surprises you a lot. Have you seen Erik's new girlfriend? She's a real knockout.

3. knock... out p.v. When you try very hard to please other people, you knock yourself out or knock yourself out to do something.

Marsha's Thanksgiving dinner was fabulous. She really knocked herself out.

Thanks for inviting me to spend the weekend with you, but don't knock yourself out - I don't mind sleeping on the couch.

4. knock... out p.v. When soldiers knock out a piece of the enemy's equipment, they destroy it or damage it enough so that it no longer operates.

The enemy radar installation was knocked out by a 500-pound bomb.

I can't contact headquarters. I think our communications system might have been knocked out during the attack.

1. throw... out p.v. When you throw something out, you dispose of it by putting it in the wastebasket, trash, and so on. Throw away is the same as throw out.

l can't find some important papers, and I think they might've been accidentally thrown out.

Don't throw that newspaper out - I haven't read it yet.

2. throw... out (of) p.v. When you throw people out or throw people out of a group, place, building, or room, you order them to leave. Kick out is similar to throw out.

Frank started a fight and got thrown out of the bar.

I haven't paid the rent in six months, and I'm worried that the sheriff will come and throw us out.

1. ask... out p.v. When you ask people out, you ask them to go with you to a place of entertainment in order to have fun and spend time together.

Being asked out by Tom was quite a surprise to Judy.

The Bakers called and asked the Ortegas out.

1. wear... out p.v. When something wears out or you wear it out, it becomes damaged or weak from use and age and is no longer usable.

People who live in the city wear out their car brakes faster than people who live in the country.

The carpet in the hallway wore out and had to be replaced.

worn-out part. adj. When something is worn-out, it has become damaged or weak from use and age and is no longer usable.

l need new running shoes. These are totally worn-out.

2. wear... out p.v. When something wears you out, it makes you very tired.

Playing with his grandchildren really wore Fred out.

Shoveling snow for three hours would wear anyone out.

worn-out part.adj. When something has made you very tired, you are worn-out. l have to sit down and rest for a minute - I'm worn-out.