spout from (something)

spout from (something)

1. Of a liquid or gas, to pour or gush out from something. Heavy rains overloaded the local sewer lines, causing sewage to spout from the building's toilets. Boiling-hot steam spouted from the fissure in the ground.

2. To expel or eject some liquid or gas from something in a stream or gush. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spout" and "from." The pot started spouting steam from a hole in its lid as the contents inside began to boil. As the pressure increased, the dam began spouting water from a crack that appeared near the center.

3. Of words or thoughts, to issue forth from some source very quickly or voluminously. Words were spouting from his lips faster than I could even comprehend them. I usually have to sit at my desk and let my mind wander for a bit before good ideas start spouting from it.

4. To recite words or thoughts taken from some source, especially in a disingenuous, pretentious, or naïve manner. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spout" and "from." That's the last time I date a philosophy major. She just spent every evening together spouting rubbish from whatever book she happened to be reading that day. Stop spouting the rules and regulations from the employee handbook at me, Tom. You're not my boss!

See also: spout

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

spout from something

[for a liquid] to gush from something. A plume of water vapor spouted from the blowhole of the whale. Water spouted from the top of the fountain and flowed down the sides.

See also: spout

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