blot out (something)

to make something stop upsetting you.

I twist the pillow over my head to blot out the horrible sounds.

She closed her eyes, trying to blot out the memory of the day's events.

Related vocabulary: block out something

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of blot (= to cover something with drops of ink)

• the whole works
• the whys and the wherefores
• the whys and wherefores
• the whys and wherefores of
• the whys and wherefores of something
• the witching hour
• the woman in the street
• the woman of dreams
• the woman of your dreams
• the woman on the Clapham omnibus
• the woman on the street
• the wooden spoon
• the works
• the world and his wife
• the world is oyster
• the world is your oyster
• the worm has turned.
• the worse for wear
• the worst-case scenario
• the worst of both worlds
• the writing is on the wall
• the writing on the wall
• the wrong side of the tracks
• They broke the mould when they made someone.
• They broke the mould when they made something.