washout
C1Informal for 'failure' meaning; Technical/Specialist for erosion meaning.
Definition
Meaning
A complete failure or disappointment; something that fails to materialise as planned. Also, a channel or hole eroded by water.
Can refer to a person who is weak or ineffectual (informal, dated). In engineering/geology: a breach in a road, railway, or embankment caused by flooding.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The 'failure' sense often carries a connotation of anticlimax or unmet expectations. The erosion sense is literal and descriptive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term for 'failure' and 'erosion'. In UK English, informally used to describe a weak or pathetic person is more common (though dated).
Connotations
UK: Slightly more versatile in informal contexts (can describe a person). US: Primarily an event/thing that is a failure or a physical erosion.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both. More common in spoken/informal contexts for the 'failure' sense.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [event] was a washout.He/She is a washout.Heavy rain caused a washout on the [road/track].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a complete washout from start to finish.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The product launch was a total washout; we barely made any sales."
Academic
"The experiment was a washout due to contaminated samples."
Everyday
"Our picnic was a washout because of the thunderstorm."
Technical
"The geologist surveyed the washout that had damaged the railway line."
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He gave a washout performance.
American English
- It was a washout season for the team.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The football game was a washout because of the rain.
- I'm afraid the party was a bit of a washout; hardly anyone came.
- The new policy proved to be a total washout and was abandoned after six months.
- Initial investor enthusiasm soon dissipated, and the venture capital round ended in a washout.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car WASH that washes OUT all your plans, leaving only failure.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE IS AN EROSION (something planned is washed away).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'вымывание' for the 'failure' sense. For 'failure', use 'провал', 'неудача'. For the erosion sense, 'размыв' or 'промоина' is appropriate.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The event washouted' is wrong). It's primarily a noun.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'washout' used literally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but this is informal and somewhat dated, more common in UK English (e.g., 'He's a bit of a washout').
No. When meaning 'failure', it is informal. The erosion meaning is technical/specialist.
Both mean disappointment. 'Washout' implies a more complete, often sudden, failure. 'Letdown' focuses more on the feeling of disappointment.
No, 'washout' is a noun. The phrasal verb 'wash out' exists (e.g., wash out a stain), but the noun 'washout' is not used verbally.