wash out
B2Informal, but common in both spoken and written contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To remove something by washing or for rain to cancel an event.
To fail to meet a required standard; to fade or become removed through use or exposure; to be exhausted or rendered ineffective.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Phrasal verb with separable usage (e.g., 'wash the stain out'). The figurative meanings ('fail', 'become exhausted') are derived from the literal sense of color or substance being removed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In US English, 'wash out' is more commonly used for event cancellations due to rain ('The game was washed out'). In UK English, 'rained off' is a frequent alternative. The noun/adjective 'washout' for a failure or disappointing event is common in both.
Connotations
When describing a person who fails (e.g., a training course), it can carry a sense of not meeting a rigorous standard, but is not necessarily highly pejorative.
Frequency
Both literal and figurative uses are frequent in both varieties, with the 'cancel event' sense slightly more prevalent in US sports reporting.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] wash out [NP][NP] be washed out (by rain)[NP] wash out of [course/event]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a complete washout.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The new product launch was a washout.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; may appear in sociological texts about dropouts.
Everyday
Very common for discussing stained clothes, cancelled outdoor plans, or personal failure.
Technical
Used in textiles (colour fastness), meteorology (flooding), and military/aviation (failure in training).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The rain washed out the cricket match.
- This cheap dye will wash out.
American English
- The storm washed out the baseball game.
- He washed out of flight school after two months.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- She wore a wash-out blue jumper.
- The festival was a wash-out weekend.
American English
- The wash-out jeans were fashionable.
- It was a total washout event.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need to wash out this cup.
- The red mark washed out.
- He washed the mud out of his trousers.
- The picnic was washed out by the rain.
- Several recruits wash out during the first week of training.
- The colour has washed out after many washes.
- The constant criticism washed out any initial enthusiasm he had for the project.
- The study's findings were a statistical washout, showing no significant effect.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine washing a T-shirt so vigorously that the colour WASHes OUT, leaving it faded and a FAILURE compared to its original state.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE IS THE REMOVAL OF SUBSTANCE/COLOUR; CANCELLATION IS CLEANSING BY RAIN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'вымыть снаружи'. For cancelling events, avoid 'отменить' alone; use 'отменить из-за дождя/погоды'. For failing a course, it's closer to 'отчислиться/вылететь' rather than just 'провалить'.
Common Mistakes
- *I washed out the stain from my shirt. (Correct: I washed the stain out of my shirt / I washed out the stain.)
- Confusing 'wash out' with 'wash up' (clean dishes).
Practice
Quiz
In a military context, 'to wash out' means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both exist. The verb is usually two words ('wash out'). The noun meaning 'a failure' or 'a cancelled event' is one word ('washout'). The adjective is also one word ('a washout candidate').
Yes, figuratively. It means a person fails to meet standards and is removed from a course, programme, or position (e.g., 'She washed out of medical school').
'Wash out' implies cleaning to remove a substance. 'Rinse out' is a lighter action, often just using water to remove soap or a light residue after washing.
It can be derogatory, implying they are a failure. Use cautiously. It's less harsh in contexts like sports training where it's a standard term for not qualifying.