stomach pump: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Technical (Medical) and Informal (Figurative)
Quick answer
What does “stomach pump” mean?
A medical device used to empty the stomach's contents through the mouth, typically by suction via a tube, often in cases of poisoning or overdose.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical device used to empty the stomach's contents through the mouth, typically by suction via a tube, often in cases of poisoning or overdose.
The procedure or act of using such a device; can be used figuratively to describe an extremely unpleasant experience or something that causes severe emotional distress, akin to being forcibly emptied.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in literal meaning. Figurative use may be slightly more common in US informal speech.
Connotations
Equally negative connotations for both the procedure and the figurative sense in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, encountered primarily in medical contexts or vivid metaphorical descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “stomach pump” in a Sentence
The doctors had to USE a stomach pump ON the patient.They PERFORMED stomach pumping.The film was a STOMACH PUMP of emotions.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stomach pump” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The casualty officer decided to stomach-pump the overdose victim immediately.
- I felt like I'd been stomach-pumped after that meeting.
American English
- They had to pump his stomach after the poisoning.
- That lecture just stomach-pumped all my enthusiasm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, toxicology, or emergency medicine texts.
Everyday
Rare, except in discussions of medical emergencies or as a strong figurative expression.
Technical
Standard term in emergency medicine, though 'gastric lavage' is more precise for the procedure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stomach pump”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stomach pump”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stomach pump”
- Using it as a verb ('They stomach-pumped him' is informal; 'They performed gastric lavage' is formal). Confusing it with an emetic (a substance that *induces* vomiting).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its use has declined in modern emergency medicine due to specific risks and the development of other treatments like activated charcoal. It is now used only in select, time-sensitive scenarios.
Informally, yes (e.g., 'They stomach-pumped him'). In formal medical writing, 'perform gastric lavage' or 'undertake gastric suction' is preferred.
A stomach pump is a mechanical device that actively removes contents. An emetic is a drug (like ipecac syrup) that causes the patient to vomit spontaneously. Emetics are also now rarely recommended.
Yes, highly informal. It is a vivid, somewhat graphic metaphor used for emphasis in colloquial speech or expressive writing, not in formal contexts.
A medical device used to empty the stomach's contents through the mouth, typically by suction via a tube, often in cases of poisoning or overdose.
Stomach pump: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstʌmək pʌmp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstʌmək pʌmp/ or /ˈstəmək/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(figurative) It was a real stomach pump of an experience.”
- “(figurative) That documentary was like a stomach pump for the soul.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PUMP for your STOMACH, literally sucking things out. The word itself sounds harsh and mechanical, fitting its unpleasant function.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE IS A MEDICAL PROCEDURE / EMOTIONAL PURGING IS PHYSICAL PURGING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might 'stomach pump' be used figuratively?