Idioms

flush out

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flush out

1. To use liquids to expel something from something else. A noun or pronoun can be used between "flush" and "out." If you get debris in your eyes, be sure to flush them out with water immediately. After your wisdom teeth surgery, you'll need to flush out the extraction sites with salt water to prevent infection. Every lab has an eyewash station, in the event that we have to flush chemicals out of a student's eyes.
2. To force someone or something out of hiding. A noun or pronoun can be used between "flush" and "out." That loud crash flushed out a stray cat from under our porch. Police have the suspect surrounded and are hoping to flush him out with tear gas. He's the exterminator—he'll come up with some way to flush the squirrels out of our attic.
3. To cause some substance to be expelled from one's body. A noun or pronoun can be used between "flush" and "out." The diet promises to flush toxins out of your body, whatever that means. Be sure to drink plenty of water. It will help flush out the poison in your system. I know you're not feeling well, but stay hydrated—that will help to flush out all the germs.
See also: flush, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

flush something out

to clean something out with a flow of liquid. Flush the fuel line out to clean it. Please flush out the fuel line and clean it.
See also: flush, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

flush out

v.
1. To empty or clean something by a flow of water or liquid: After coming in contact with the caustic substance, she flushed out her eye, which was red and puffy. The school nurse flushed the child's eyes out after he got fingerpaint in them.
2. To cause something to leave or be removed from something with a flow of water or liquid: She ran to the sink to flush out the dirt from her cut. My tears flushed the sand out of my eye.
3. To frighten someone or something from a concealed place: The golden retriever jumped into the reeds and flushed out the ducks. The passing car flushed the birds out of the thicket.
4. To drive or force someone into the open: The sniper is hiding in one of the buildings to the south and won't be easy to flush out. The army pledged to flush all insurgents out of the village.
See also: flush, out
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.
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References in periodicals archive
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The press release said security forces are carrying out search and cordon operation in Charmang Tehsil of Bajur to flush out the terrorists from the area.
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When there was a lot of space available, he says, it made sense to flush out prospects from your neighbor.
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If one has pocket jacks and one is a club, the odds swell to almost 60 percent in favor of your opponent with the addition of the open-ended straight draw with the flush outs. It also would be reasonable for someone holding popular connecting cards like Q-J or 6-7 to flop the straight.
On Poker -- Losing small is a key element of playing optimally
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