#nofilter

A common hashtag on social media, especially the photo-sharing platform Instagram, for pictures that have not been altered with any kind of filter or visual enhancement. What a gorgeous sunset tonight. #nofilter #nofilter, huh? I bet she's lying. I mean, when have you ever seen the water around here look that blue, huh? Just some more breathtaking, sprawling views of the Irish countryside. #nofilter

bozo filter

A filter that one can enable in an email account to prevent correspondence from someone irritating or obnoxious. Wow, that was rude—I'm definitely adding him to my bozo filter now. A: "Mom, I can't believe you turned on bozo filter for Aunt Sally!" B: "Why? I know she's my sister, but she sends about 20 emails a day!" I added John to my bozo filter a long time ago, so I have no idea what his most recent email said.

filter (something) out of (something)

To use a filter to remove something from something else, usually a liquid. We can use this machine to filter any pollutants out of the water sample. The machine is supposed to filter the grounds out of the coffee as it brews. You did put a filter in, right? I've been sneezing nonstop, so I really hope this purifier successfully filters allergens out of the air in our house!

filter down

1. Of a liquid, to slowly seep down through lower substrate levels. The company bottles rainwater that has filtered down through seven layers of volcanic rock, purifying it and enriching it with minerals. Once the weather warmed up after the blizzard, the huge amount of melting snow on our roof filtered down through our attic and into our bedroom. As the machine works, the coffee filters down, and the grounds become trapped in the filter.

2. By extension, of information, resources, communication, etc., to move slowly and in small amounts down to lower levels of people in an organization, population, or group. It always takes a dog's age for any important company information to filter down to me and the other interns. The government has approved a staggering $200 billion stimulus package, but some experts warn it could be years before that money filters down to individuals and smaller businesses. Gossip may filter down to you guys in other positions, but as the file clerk, I can honestly say that everything comes out in the paperwork.

filter in(to) (some place)

1. To slowly pass or diffuse into some place. The sunlight filtering into my bedroom is what eventually woke me up. We don't even live that close to the high school, and the marching band's songs still filter into our house on game nights. It's called a "darkroom" for a reason, so no, I can't have any outside light filtering in here!

2. To slowly or gradually enter some place. There's no set start time for the event—people just filter in all day long. I bet my family filters into the party over the next hour—they're incapable of being on time. Hey, homeroom starts at 8:25 sharp! If you filter in after that, you better have a late slip from the attendance office.

filter out

1. To use a filtration device or system to remove something from something else. A noun or pronoun can be used between "filter" and "out." These noise-canceling headphones were great at filtering all the background noise out during my flight to New York. We can use this machine to filter out anything that might pollute the water sample. As the machine brews the coffee, it's also supposed to filter out the grounds. You did put a filter in, right?

2. To keep something from being known or experienced. A noun or pronoun can be used between "filter" and "out." Your job is to scan the user forum and filter out any offensive posts. You can't just filter negative feedback out from the "Reviews" page. Customers deserve to see the whole picture! Can I filter out curse words? I want my kids to be able to play this game.

filter through (something)

To move or pass through some thing. No, it won't be too dark in here—a good amount of light will still filter through these sheer curtains. We don't even live that close to the high school, and the marching band's songs still filter through the walls of our house on game nights. A: "Ew, why are there grounds in my coffee?" B: "Something must be wrong with the machine. Only coffee is supposed to filter through the, well, filter."

filter up

Of information, resources, communication, etc., to move slowly and in small amounts up to higher levels of people in an organization, population, or group. Local think-tanks are developing new, pragmatic strategies to deal with the burgeoning housing crisis, but they are unlikely to filter up to the agenda of state lawmakers anytime soon. How are the interns doing? Now that I'm a manager, information like that doesn't filter up to me organically. How long will it take for employee dissatisfaction to filter up the food chain, huh?

filter in

(to some place)

1. Lit. to leak or seep into some place. The smell of bacon cooking filtered into his room and made him wake up. The smoke filtered in and burned our eyes.

2. Fig. [for people] to come into a place, a few at a time, over a period of time. One by one, the guests filtered into the room. They filtered in and started on the snacks.

filter something out of something

and filter something out

to remove something from a fluid by running it through a filter. We filtered the odors out of the water and made it fit to drink. I'm glad you filtered out the odor.

filter through (something)

to pass or seep through something. The water filtered through the coffee grounds and dripped into the pot. The clear water filtered through and left the sand behind.

filter down

To pass or spread downward from an upper level to lower levels, as through a filter: The information slowly filtered down from management to the hourly employees.

filter out

To prevent something from passing through, being communicated, or being perceived: My new glasses filter out ultraviolet rays. These headphones filter unwanted noise out.

filter through

To be allowed to pass through something or to find a way through something, especially an obstacle: The sunlight filtered through the thin curtains.

bozo filter

n. a setting on an internet email reader that will filter out selected annoying people. (Refers to bozo, a jerk.) Welcome to my bozo filter, jerk!