spill out
Related to spill out: spit out
spill out (of something)
1. Of a liquid, granular substance, or collection of items, to slosh, scatter, or flow out of some container. You need to walk more carefully, or the drinks are going to spill out of those cups. The man knocked my shopping cart over, and all my groceries spilled out.
2. To cause some liquid, granular substance, or collection of items to slosh, scatter, or flow out of some container. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "spill" and "out." I accidentally spilled water out of the dehumidifier when I went to change its filter. The toddler started grabbing at the bag and ended up spilling out a bunch of pasta.
3. Of an emotion, especially a negative one, to be expressed very suddenly and volubly. The most vile, racist comments came spilling out of her mouth.
4. To express, demonstrate, or release a great amount of some emotion, especially a negative one. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "spill" and "out." I knew there was nothing the courts would do, so I began spilling out my anger and frustration into a book that I hoped would help expose the truth.
5. Of people or animals, to throng together and exit (from or into some place or thing) in great numbers and all at once. Thousands of people spilled out onto the streets to protest the controversial legislation. I was horrified as dozens of rats came spilling out of the rotten wall.
See also: out, spill
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
spill out (of something)
to scatter, flow, or drop out of something. All the rice spilled out of the box onto the floor. The rice spilled out on the floor.
See also: out, spill
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- spill out (of something)
- splash over
- brim
- brim over
- splash with
- splash (someone, something, or oneself) with (something)
- bubble over
- send (something) flying
- slop over
- boil down