stink out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-Low (informal, context-dependent)Informal, casual, often colloquial. The competitive sense is more slangy.
Quick answer
What does “stink out” mean?
To fill a place with a very bad or unpleasant smell.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To fill a place with a very bad or unpleasant smell.
In competitive situations (e.g., sports, card games, British informal), to perform much better than an opponent, causing them to feel or appear inadequate or humiliated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The literal meaning is understood in both dialects. The figurative meaning 'to decisively defeat or outclass' is common in British/international English but rare to non-existent in American English, which would use 'smell up' or 'stink up' for the literal sense.
Connotations
In British usage, the competitive sense can carry connotations of humiliation. In all uses, it is informal and somewhat forceful.
Frequency
More frequent in British English due to its dual meanings. In American English, 'stink up' is the more common construction for the literal sense.
Grammar
How to Use “stink out” in a Sentence
[Somebody] stinks out [somewhere/something][Something] stinks out [somewhere][Team/Player A] stinks out [Team/Player B] (in a match/game)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stink out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- That old cheese will stink out the whole fridge.
- They completely stank us out in the first half; the score was 5-0.
American English
- That chemical plant stinks out the whole neighborhood.
- (Competitive sense not used).
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable.)
American English
- (Not applicable.)
adjective
British English
- (Not applicable as phrasal verb; no standard adjectival form.)
American English
- (Not applicable as phrasal verb; no standard adjectival form.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potential in informal complaints: 'The new carpet adhesive is stinking out the whole office.'
Academic
Extremely rare; considered too informal.
Everyday
Common for domestic complaints about smells, or in sports/social commentary in the UK.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stink out”
- Incorrect particle: 'stink up the room' (AmE) vs. 'stink out the room' (BrE). Forgetting the object: 'The fish stinks out' (incorrect) vs. 'The fish stinks out the kitchen' (correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal or colloquial. Avoid it in formal writing.
For the literal meaning, 'stink up' is more common. The figurative (competitive) meaning is not used in AmE.
Both 'stank out' and 'stunk out' are accepted, though 'stank out' is more common in UK usage for the simple past (e.g., 'He stank out the room').
There is no direct noun. You would use 'stink' (e.g., 'the stink in the room') or 'stench'.
To fill a place with a very bad or unpleasant smell.
Stink out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstɪŋk ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstɪŋk ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stink the place out (UK, literal & figurative)”
- “Stink someone out of something (to force someone to leave by creating a bad smell)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a skunk (which STINKs) chasing you OUT of your house. The bad smell forces you OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
BAD SMELL IS AN INVASIVE AGENT / SUPERIORITY IS OVERPOWERING SMELL (for competitive sense).
Practice
Quiz
In British informal English, what does it mean if a football team 'stinks out' their opponents?