fork out

fork out

1. To give or dispense something, often money. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "fork" and "out." If you want the most cutting edge technology, you'd better be prepared to fork out the dough for it. Listen, fork out the cash or you'll never see your husband again! Nobody wants to fork out the dough for a new car, but you have to—how is this piece of junk even still running?

2. To split off or move away from something else, as of a body of water. That part of the river forks out from where we're standing now. This spur forks out from the main subway line and goes to Chinatown. The river forks out into the smaller creeks that run through our neighborhood.

See also: fork, out

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

fork something out

 (to someone)

1. Inf. Lit. to serve food to someone, using a fork. He forked out the chicken to everyone. He brought up a big dish of fried chicken and forked it out.

2. Fig. to give out something to someone. We forked the coupons out to everyone who asked for them. We forked out the coupons.

See also: fork, out

fork some money out (for something)

Fig. to pay (perhaps unwillingly) for something. (Often mention is made of the amount of money. See the examples.) Do you think I'm going to fork twenty dollars out for that book? Forking out lots of money for taxes is part of life.

See also: fork, money, out

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

fork out

v.

1. To distribute or supply something, especially money: The government forks out millions of dollars to maintain the royal palace. The town finally forked the cash out for a new high school.

2. To split or diverge; fork: The river forks out in numerous places in the delta.

See also: fork, 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.