belt out
1. To sing or talk loudly or forcefully. A noun or pronoun can be used between "belt" and "out." I was amazed when that young girl walked into the audition and flawlessly belted out a Whitney Houston song without the slightest hesitation. The security guard belted instructions out at us as we pulled into the parking lot. I've been dealing with 10 giggly little girls who've had too much birthday cake and are currently belting out every song they know. Yes, I have a headache.
2. To strike someone violently. I belted out the intruder with a baseball bat, and he was still unconscious when the police arrived. You keep spouting those crazy conspiracy theories, and you're gonna get belted out. I had to belt out that guy after he started insulting my mother.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
belt something out
Fig. to sing or play a song loudly and with spirit. When she's playing the piano, she really belts the music out. She really knows how to belt out a song.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
belt out
1. Knock unconscious; beat up, trounce; murder. For example, The police officer was accused of belting out the teenager before taking him to the station , or The hold-up man belted out the storekeeper and fled with the money. This expression originated in boxing. [Slang; c. 1940]
2. Sing or play music very loudly, as in She belted out the national anthem before every game. [Colloquial; c. 1950]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
belt out
v. To sing or shout something loudly and forcefully: The singer belted out the national anthem before the baseball game. He belted his story out so that everyone in the large room could hear him.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.