flush (redirected from flushes)

flush someone or something out of some place and flush someone or something out

to cause someone or something to leave a hiding place. (Originally from hunting.) The police flushed the gunman out from his hiding place. They flushed out the crooks.

See also: out, place, some

flush something away

to wash something unwanted away. Flush all this mess away! Fred flushed away all the leaves on the sidewalk.

See also: away

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: out

flush with something 

1. Lit. even with something; sharing a surface with something. The edge of the sink is flush with the counter. The wood flooring is flush with the carpet so people won't trip.

2. Fig. [of a face] red with anger, embarrassment, rage, etc. He faced the woman he had dreamed about all his life. His face flushed with recognition and his heart pounded. Ellen's face flushed with embarrassment.

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be in the first flush of something

if someone is in the first flush of something, they are at the start of it You're no longer in the first flush of youth, you know, Dad!

See also: first

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flush out somebody/something also flush somebody/something out

to force a person or animal to stop hiding The military stormed the building and set it on fire to flush out the militants hidden inside. A hunting dog's job is to flush out whatever it is you're hunting.

See also: out

flush out something also flush something out

to cause something to become obvious We ran the new computer system for a week to flush out any problems with the software.

See also: out