spill
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
To accidentally cause a liquid or other substance to flow out of its container.
To reveal information unintentionally or to overflow beyond limits.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can be used both transitively and intransitively; often implies accidental action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Past tense: British English accepts both 'spilled' and 'spilt', while American English prefers 'spilled'.
Connotations
Similar connotations of accident or revelation in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common in everyday speech in both UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
transitive: spill somethingintransitive: something spillsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spill the beans”
- “cry over spilled milk”
- “spill one's guts”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to accidental losses, e.g., data spill or product spill in supply chain.
Academic
Used in scientific contexts, e.g., chemical spills in labs.
Everyday
Common for household accidents, like spilling drinks.
Technical
In environmental science, refers to oil spills or hazardous material spills.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She spilt the wine on the carpet.
- The milk spilled from the jug.
American English
- He spilled the soda on his shirt.
- The oil spilled into the ocean.
adjective
British English
- The spilt sugar made a mess.
- We need to clean up the spilled paint.
American English
- The spilled coffee stained the table.
- Avoid spilled liquids on the floor.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I spilled my juice.
- Don't spill the water.
- He accidentally spilt the beans about the surprise party.
- The truck spilled sand on the road.
- The company faced fines after the oil spill incident.
- She spilled her emotions during the therapy session.
- The investigation revealed that confidential data had been spilled online.
- Metaphorically, spilling one's guts can be cathartic but risky.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPILL: Sudden Pouring In Liquid Loss – remember it's accidental.
Conceptual Metaphor
Information is a liquid; revealing secrets is spilling them.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, 'пролить' can mean both 'spill' and 'pour', so context is needed to distinguish intentional vs. accidental action.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'spill' as a noun for non-liquid substances incorrectly, or confusing 'spilled' and 'spilt' in different dialects.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'spill the beans' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While 'spilt' is understood, 'spilled' is the preferred past tense form in American English.
Yes, 'spill' can be used for granular solids like sand or sugar, though it's most common for liquids.
'Spill' implies an accidental action, while 'pour' is usually intentional.
In business, 'spill' often refers to accidental losses, such as data spills or inventory spills.