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to flush out

to flush out

51 4.5
Force unwanted people or things out of a place, often using water
  • phrasal verb
  • /flʌʃ aʊt/
translation icon : hacer salir
  • Run the water for a few moments to flush out any dirt from the pipes.

I love to get in compression boots to kind of flush out all the bad toxins.

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Examples

  • We have to address that and resolve that and flush that out of your system.

  • The more water you have, the more toxins flush out from the body.

    Blog text (16)
  • Get down there now and flush that thing out!

  • See if we can flush the daddy out.

  • Got to flush them drugs out of your system.

  • Keep flushing out her system with fresh water.

  • So by pouring a nice glass of warm water into the drum, it's going to flush out any bits that you couldn't quite reach.

  • Drinking water is the easiest way to detox your body and flush out the toxins.

    Blog text (16)
  • Hence, the toxins, including the dissolved cellulite, are easily flushed out of the body through the skin.

    Blog text (2)
  • Salt build-up is less severe in Southeast Asia because high rainfall helps to flush out accumulated salts.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

to remove
vsto flush out
1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

is specifically about forcing unwanted matter out, often using flow
to get rid of
vsto flush out
1.6

To remove or throw away something you do not want

commonly involves using liquid or other means to push unwanted items out
to clear
vsto flush out
1.5

To remove people or things from a place

focuses on forcing unwanted material out, often with liquid or pressure
to take out
vsto flush out
948 1.9

To remove something from a place or container

usually implies forceful expulsion, especially by liquid or pressure
to clean
vsto flush out
260 1.0

To empty something completely

is used to drive undesirable matter out, not simply general cleaning
to drain
vsto flush out
198 1.0

To let liquid flow away from something

is about forcing unwanted material out, often by directing liquid flow
to wipe out
vsto flush out
189 4.2

Destroy something so nothing is left

is narrower, meaning to force undesired matter out rather than destroy
to flush
vsto flush out
168 2.7

To clean something by running water through it

targets expelling undesired material specifically, not just general cleaning
to clear out
vsto flush out
91 3.1

Remove all things from a place so it becomes empty

targets specifically unwanted material and uses flow or force to remove it
to eliminate
vsto flush out
  • Specialized
81 4.3

Remove waste or harmful substances from the body

is an active removal by liquid flow or force, not a passive bodily process
to cleanse
vsto flush out
  • Formal
73 4.8

Make a person or place free from unwanted feelings such as guilt

is done by physical forcing using liquid or pressure
to purge
vsto flush out
49 6.3

To remove unwanted substances, things, or people by cleaning

overlaps but key stresses using liquid flow or pressure to expel items
to expel
vsto flush out
34 5.0

Push out a substance, for example gas from a body or container

often relies on flowing liquid to force unwanted matter from places
to wash away
vsto flush out
33 2.1

Water or another liquid carries something away

is usually deliberate, using flow to push unwanted matter from places
to purify
vsto flush out
30 4.6

To remove dirt and bad chemicals from water or air to make them clean

is more focused on driving undesirable items out, not only achieving purity
to pump out
vsto flush out
23 3.2

To remove liquid with a pump or make many things quickly

uses flowing liquid or other means to push unwanted things out
to root out
vsto flush out
21 3.9

Find and completely remove something harmful or hidden

is about physically forcing undesired matter out, not just discovery
to eject
vsto flush out
20 4.1

Push a liquid or other substance out of something

typically removes material by sudden force rather than gentle rinsing
to filter out
vsto flush out
20 3.8

To remove unwanted things from water, air, or lists by letting the rest pass

often uses direct liquid flow or pressure rather than selective filtration
to suck out
vsto flush out
16 4.5

Pull something out of a place by using air to draw it in

often instead uses flowing liquid or pressure to drive things out
to stamp out
vsto flush out
13 4.2

To stop something completely using strong action

is similar but usually refers to pushing unwanted material from places
to clean out
vsto flush out
  • Informal
10 3.6

Remove people completely from a place or group because they are unwanted

often involves using liquid flow or pressure to expel undesired matter
to clear away
vsto flush out
10 1.8

To take things away from a place to make it tidy

is about forcing undesired matter from places, not merely tidying
to clear off
vsto flush out
8 3.0

Remove things from a surface to make it empty or clean

is used to force unwanted material from areas, not only surface clearing
to wash out
vsto flush out
8 4.3

Carry away soil or roads by strong flowing water

overlaps but often implies natural erosion rather than deliberate forcing
to force out
vsto flush out
6 4.2

To push something out with effort or pressure

uses liquid flow or similar means to drive unwanted things out
to evacuate
vsto flush out
5 5.0

To take out what is inside a container so it becomes empty

often implies forcing unwanted material out, frequently using liquid or pressure
to detoxify
vsto flush out
2 5.4

To remove harmful substances from something to make it safe

aims at forcing unwanted matter out, rather than just neutralizing toxins
to sweep away
vsto flush out
1 3.9

To destroy or carry something away completely, for example by water

is more about dislodging and expelling matter, not total destruction
to extirpate
vsto flush out
  • Formal
1 9.9

To destroy something completely, including its root

focuses on dislodging unwanted material from places, not full eradication
to decon
vsto flush out
  • Jargon
1 8.4

To remove dangerous substances from people, equipment, or areas

is about driving unwanted matter out, not only technical decontamination
to slop out
vsto flush out
  • Informal
9.8

To empty dirty liquid or other waste from a container like a bucket

focuses on forcing unwanted matter out, not only emptying dirty liquid
to sponge out
vsto flush out
4.7

To remove liquid from a surface by wiping it with a cloth

is about driving undesired material out, not only absorbing liquids
to scour out
vsto flush out
4.6

To clean something very well by scrubbing or washing

focuses on forcing material out rather than manual scrubbing action

Antonyms

65 4.5

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings

60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

How Forceful

to eradicate
85 6.6
to expel
194 5.0
to drive out
70 3.8
to flush out
51 4.5
to chase away
26 2.6
to shoo
  • Informal
35 7.0

Surface Forms

flush out infinitive
flushed out past participle
flushing out present participle
flushes out third person singular

Morphology

flush + out

The meaning 'to force something undesirable out' is directly derivable from combining 'flush' (to push/clean through with liquid) with 'out' (away from the interior). The verb+particle pattern where 'out' signals expulsion or movement away is a common, compositional English pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The expression flush out comes from a simple picture: hunters or dogs would flush animals out of thick bushes so the animals ran into the open. That's why it now means 'to force something hidden or unwanted out of a place'.