get-out

[get-out]

noun

1. Commerce.,  the break-even point.

2. Chiefly British.,  a method or maneuver used to escape a difficult or embarrassing situation; cop-out.

   The scoundrel has used that get-out once too often.

get out

verb

1. to leave or escape or cause to leave or escape: used in the imperative when dismissing a person

2. to make or become known; publish or be published

3. (tr) to express with difficulty

4. to extract (information or money) (from a person)

   to get a confession out of a criminal

5. (tr) to gain or receive something, esp something of significance or value

   you get out of life what you put into it

6. (foll by of) to avoid or cause to avoid

   she always gets out of swimming

7. (tr) to solve (a puzzle or problem) successfully

8. cricket to dismiss or be dismissed

noun

1. an escape, as from a difficult situation

2. theatre the process of moving out of a theatre the scenery, props, and costumes after a production

Word History and Origins

Origin of get out¹

First recorded in 1880–85; noun use of verb phrase get out

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as all get-out, in the extreme; to the utmost degree.

   Once his mind is made up, he can be stubborn as all get-out.

Leave, escape, as in With good conduct he'll get out of prison in a few months , or In case of a fire, we just want to get out alive . [c. 1300] This phrase is also used as an imperative, ordering someone to depart. For example, Get out! You've no business being in here . [c. 1700] Also see get out of , def. 1.

Become known, as in Somehow the secret got out . [Late 1800s] Also see out in the open .

get something out . Publish something, as in Once we get out the newsletter, we can concentrate on other projects . [Late 1700s]

Produce a sound, as in The singer had a sore throat and could hardly get out a note . [First half of 1800s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with get out .

Example Sentences

"Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to say to the residents of Gaza, listen to me carefully: You have been warned: get out of there!"

From BBC

Afterward, Dudek told her, “I don’t know how we get out of this without hurting huge numbers of people. … I’m just trying to give advocates some ammunition.”

From Salon

"I say to the residents of Gaza City: you have been warned, get out of there."

From BBC

By getting out there and doing soft-focus interviews, Katie Miller might just be trying to cast an image of herself as first lady material.

From Salon

The driver - a 51-year-old man - was arrested at his home and taken into custody after briefly refusing to get out of the vehicle.

From BBC

Related Words

• avoid 
• break out 
• go 
• leave 
• take off