flare out
1. To spread or fan something out. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "flare" and "out." Flare out the pages so that I can see them all at once. We're supposed to flare out our vocabulary index cards so that Madame Lalonde can see that we made them. When she flared out all of the dresses, the royal purple one really caught my eye.
2. To widen or expand something. Now you need to flare out the sides to create the opening of the bowl. We all used our shovels to flare out the sides of the hole. I asked my mom to flare out my pantlegs, but she refuses to make me bell-bottoms.
3. To widen away from something. I don't like the way the hemline flares out—do you? Bell-bottoms flare out too dramatically from the ankles and just don't look right on my petite frame. I'm not looking for a mermaid-type gown, but this one flares out way too much.
4. To react with sudden, intense anger. Hey, don't flare out at me, I'm just the messenger! I couldn't help but flare out when I heard about the latest printing mishap. The boss flared out at the intern for mixing up the documents for the year-end audit.
5. To emit or release a flame or light. Look, there's a light flaring out up ahead! Help is on the way! Don't throw water on a grease fire, that'll just make it flare out! A: "Why is it dark in here?" B: "The overhead light flared out and then I guess the bulb burned out."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
flare something out
to spread something out; to make something wider. (Said especially of one end of a tube or round-topped vessel.) Can you flare the end of this pipe out a little? Flare out the end of this pipe.
flare out
to spread out; to widen. (Said especially of one opening of a tube or round-topped vessel.) The end of the pipe flared out to a larger diameter. The top of the vase flared out, and was decorated with little blobs of colored glass.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.