rinse

lather, rinse, (and) repeat

An instruction to repeat the same steps of some process, perhaps multiple times, in order to achieve the same desired result. A reference to instructions found on some bottles of shampoo. It's easy, you just cut a piece of the material to length, fold it in half, then sew along the edges. Lather, rinse, and repeat until you've done 50 of them. My last job was so mindless. I would just input customer details into a spreadsheet, export the file to our internal format, then add it to the company database. Lather, rinse, repeat, all day long.
See also: repeat

rinse (one's) mouth out (with soap)

To punish someone for using rude, vulgar, or obscene language by cleaning their mouth with soap (usually used merely as a threat). If you kids don't stop cussing in this house, I'm going to rinse your mouths out with soap!
See also: mouth, out, rinse

rinse (something) out of (something else)

To clean or remove dirt or residue out from within something by spraying or flushing it with a liquid, especially water. Take the hose to the road and rinse the paint out of the cracks in the pavement. Quick, you need to rinse those chemicals out of your eyes with this solution, or you could damage your eyesight permanently.
See also: of, out, rinse

rinse down

1. To clean dirt or residue off of someone or something by spraying it with a liquid, especially water. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "down." We'll need to rinse down the side of the house and let it dry before we start painting. The dog is covered in mud, so take him out back and rinse him down with a hose.
2. To use the force of water or another liquid to remove something into or toward something else. A noun or pronoun is used between "rinse" and "down." Don't rinse those bits of food down the sink—they'll clog up the drain. Luckily it started raining, which rinsed all that splattered paint into the gutter.
3. To drink something in order to aid the act of eating or swallowing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "down." I could use a cold soda to rinse down these fries. If she struggles to swallow that pill, give her some more water to rinse it down.
See also: down, rinse

rinse off

1. To lightly clean someone or something of dirt or residue by spraying or flushing them or it with a liquid, especially water. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "off." We'll need to rinse off the side of the house and let it dry before we start painting. The dog is covered in mud, so take him out back and rinse him off with a hose. Please rinse off your dirty dishes before you put them in the dishwasher.
2. To lightly clean dirt or reside off of someone or something by spraying or flushing them or it with a liquid, especially water. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "off." Be sure to rinse the dirt off your boots before you bring them into the house. I'm going to take a quick shower to rinse the blood and sweat off me.
See also: off, rinse

rinse out

1. To clean something lightly with a liquid, especially water, to remove dirt or other residue from within it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "out." Rinse out your glass and I'll let you try this different wine. Would you mind rinsing my football jersey out and hanging it out to dry for me?
2. To lightly clean dirt or residue out from within something by spraying or flushing it with a liquid, especially water. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "out." Take the hose to the sidewalk and rinse the paint out of the cracks in the pavement. Quick, spray this solution into your eyes—you need to rinse out those chemicals or you could damage your eyesight.
See also: out, rinse

rinse with (something)

To flush or wash out (something) with some liquid. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rinse" and "with." Quick, rinse your eyes with water—those chemicals could damage your eyesight. After I'm done cleaning your teeth, I'll have you rinse with this special fluoride solution to help strengthen them.
See also: rinse
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rinse someone or something down

to wash or clean someone or something with water or other fluid. I rinsed him down for an hour and still didn't get the smell of skunk off him. I had to rinse down the driveway.
See also: down, rinse

rinse someone or something off

to wash or clean someone or something by flushing with water or other fluid. Mother rinsed the baby off and dried him with a soft towel. She rinsed off the baby.
See also: off, rinse

rinse someone's mouth out (with soap)

 and wash someone's mouth out (with soap)
Fig. to punish one by washing one's mouth out with soap, especially for using foul language. (Usually a jocular threat.) If you say that again, I'll rinse your mouth out with soap. I will wash out your mouth if you swear.
See also: mouth, out, rinse

rinse something down (with something)

to wash something down one's throat with a liquid; to follow something that one has eaten with a drink to aid its going down. Alice rinsed the cheeseburger down with a milkshake. She rinsed down the sandwich with a drink.
See also: down, rinse

rinse something out

 
1. to clean cloth or clothing partially by immersing it in water and squeezing it out. Can you please rinse this rag out? It's all dirty. Please rinse out your clothes to make sure there is no soap left in them.
2. to launder something delicate, such as feminine underwear, using a mild soap. I have to go rinse a few things out. After I rinse out some things, I will be right with you.
3. to clean the inside of a container partially by flushing it out with water. Rinse the bottle out and throw it away. Rinse out the bottle and throw it away.
See also: out, rinse

rinse something out of something

to remove something from something by flushing it with water. See if you can rinse the dirt out of this jacket. I can't rinse out the dirt.
See also: of, out, rinse

rinse something with something

to flush something with some fluid. You should rinse your clothes in milk or tomato juice to remove the smell of the skunk. Please rinse the stain with cold water.
See also: rinse
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

rinse off

v.
1. To remove dirt, soap, or some other residue from the surface of something by washing with water or other liquid: Please rinse off the detergent before you dry the dishes. I rinsed the soap off the frying pan.
2. To wash something lightly with water or other liquid to remove residue: I rinsed the dishes off and put them in the rack to dry. I rinsed off the deck chairs with a hose.
See also: off, rinse

rinse out

v.
1. To remove dirt, soap, or some other residue within something by washing with water or other liquid: I rinsed the soap out of the rags. Take these old cans and rinse out the dirt. I used turpentine on the brushes to rinse the paint out.
2. To wash something lightly with water or other liquid to remove residue from within it: I rinsed out the glasses and put them on the rack to dry. The inside of the bowl was full of dust, so I rinsed it out before I used it.
See also: out, rinse
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • battle out
  • along the right lines
  • (you) can't win them all
  • can’t win em all
  • can’t win them all
  • can't win them all
  • You can’t win ’em all
  • You can’t win them all
  • you can't win 'em all
  • you can't win them all
References in periodicals archive
Rinse the crayfish, prawns and smoked fish with warm water.
For these fabrics, use a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly.
Since the focus of the study was to assess the ability of DI water to penetrate and rinse under low-standoff components, four areas or quadrants of the test vehicle were covered with glass slides.
This second part of the position paper aims to summarize, interpret, and make recommendations based on non-commercially available oral rinse research published in the last decade.
Conventional models utilize a high flow, fresh water sanitizing rinse in the 3 to 5 gallons per minute (gpm) (0.19 to 0.32 L/s) range.
The strong cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity of oral rinse #6 might be attributed to cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), an organic surfactant used in cosmetic and cleanser products, that provokes sensitization reactions on skin exposure [34].
* Combined results of 35 trials showed that, on average, there is a 27% reduction in decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces in permanent teeth with the use of fluoride mouth rinse compared with a placebo or no mouth rinse.
* If a freshwater rinse is not available on site, at least allow time for your kayak to drip-dry before loading.
This is in agreement with a review which suggests that the regular and supervised use of fluoride mouth rinse by children is associated with a clear reduction in caries increment.
Andersen AFB Guam and InterClean Equipment of Ypsilanti Michigan have been contracted by the US Air Force to design and install an automatic taxi through clear water rinse system, designed as a corrosion control tool for the US military fleet of KC-130 and MV-22 as well as other fixed wing aircraft.
The use of a CHO mouth rinse (rinsing a small volume of CHO solution around the oral cavity before expectorating it) has been shown to enhance performance during running and cycling lasting ~30-60 minutes (Carter et al., 2004; Chambers et al., 2009; Rollo et al., 2010).
Cook's Note: You can rinse the corn in the same colander with the two cans of beans.
The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of an Essential Oil mouth rinse (Listerine(R)) on plaque formation in interproximal areas as compared to Chlorhexidine and Sterile water.
Recently a new trend has emerged: using honey to clean and rinse hair.
Turn off heat and leave it for one hour, drain and rinse well.