crash out
crash out
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "crash out" is /kɹæʃ aʊt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in the phrase:
crash (/kɹæʃ/):
k (/k/): The 'c' makes a hard 'k' sound, like in "cat."
r (/ɹ/): The 'r' sound, as in "run."
a (/æ/): The short 'a' vowel sound, as in "trap."
sh (/ʃ/): The 'sh' sound, as in "ship."
out (/aʊt/):
ou (/aʊ/): The diphthong sound, as in "house."
t (/t/): The 't' sound, as in "top."
Word Form Variations
As a phrasal verb, the verb "crash" is conjugated while "out" remains the same.
Base Form: crash out
Third-Person Singular: crashes out
Past Tense: crashed out
Present Participle: crashing out
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrasal Verb
To fall asleep very quickly and deeply, typically from extreme exhaustion. 😴
Synonyms: pass out, conk out, flake out, zonk out
Antonyms: stay awake, remain alert, pull an all-nighter
Example: "After working a 16-hour shift, I went home and immediately crashed out on the sofa."
To be unexpectedly eliminated from a competition, tournament, or process. 🏁
Synonyms: get knocked out, be eliminated, bomb out, bow out
Antonyms: advance, qualify, proceed, win
Example: "The top-seeded tennis player crashed out in the first round of the tournament."
Examples of Use
In News and Online Publications
This usage most often refers to being eliminated from a competition.
Sports Journalism: "There was to be no fairytale for Andy Murray and his brother Jamie as the two crashed out of the men’s doubles in the first round of the US Open." (The Guardian, August 2022)
Political Commentary: "The former health secretary, who entered the race as a frontrunner, crashed out of the leadership contest after finishing last in the second round of voting by Tory MPs." (The Independent, July 2022)
In Books
This usage typically refers to falling asleep from exhaustion.
Fiction: "He put the phone down and made coffee and drank it black and then he went upstairs and took off his shoes and crashed out on the bed, fully dressed." (Lee Child, The Hard Way)
In Entertainment
Television (Dialogue): In an episode of a crime procedural, a detective might say to their partner after a long case, "Let's finish this paperwork. I need to go home and crash out for at least twelve hours."
Podcasts: A host of a gaming podcast might say, "My favorite team was playing so well, and then they just crashed out of the semifinals. I couldn't believe it."
In General Public Discourse
Casual Conversation: "Are you going out tonight?" / "No way, this week has been brutal. I'm just going to order a pizza and crash out on the couch."
Social Media: A user might post on X (formerly Twitter), "Finally finished my last final exam. Time to go home and crash out for the entire winter break. 😴"
10 Famous Quotes Using Crash Out
"I am very, very disappointed. It is a big mistake and if I keep doing these I deserve to not win the championship, because you crash out." (Charles Leclerc, Formula 1 Driver)
"To crash out first round, I am obviously very disappointed." (Emma Raducanu, Tennis Player)
"He put the phone down and made coffee and drank it black and then he went upstairs and took off his shoes and crashed out on the bed, fully dressed." (Lee Child, The Hard Way)
My deal delivers on the vote of the British people... it does so without us crashing out with no deal. (Theresa May, former UK Prime Minister)
There's no worse feeling in sports than when you're the top seed and you crash out early.
After three consecutive all-nighters studying for exams, I knew I was going to get home and just crash out for a full day.
The startup's biggest fear was that it would crash out of the market before its innovative product even had a chance to gain traction.
As a director, you pour years into a film, and it's devastating to watch it crash out of the box office on opening weekend.
"Don't wait up for me tonight; I'm going to my friend's house to watch the game and will probably just crash out on their sofa."
The favored candidate saw her campaign crash out of the primaries after a series of damaging media reports.
Etymology
The phrase "crash out" gets its meaning by combining the vivid imagery of its two parts, "crash" and "out." Its origin story splits depending on which of its two main definitions we're talking about.
1. To Fall Asleep Suddenly 😴
This meaning comes from the 1960s slang term "to crash," which means to sleep, often in a place you don't normally live (like "crashing at a friend's place"). The word "crash" here creates a powerful image of someone so exhausted they don't simply lie down—they collapse into bed as if they've crashed.
When you add the word "out," it intensifies the meaning. Think of other phrases like "pass out" or "black out." In this context, "out" implies becoming unconscious.
So, when you "crash out," you are literally collapsing ("crashing") into a state of unconsciousness ("out") because of extreme fatigue.
2. To Be Eliminated from a Competition 🏁
This meaning comes from the more literal sense of the word "crash," as in a car wreck. Imagine a car in a race. If it crashes, it is immediately and dramatically out of the competition.
This powerful and clear metaphor was then applied to other types of contests. A team, player, or political candidate who is eliminated, especially in a sudden or unexpected way, is said to have "crashed out." They've suffered a sudden failure (crash) that has put them out of the running.
The Original Word: "Crash"
The base word "crash" first appeared in English in the 14th century. It's believed to be an onomatopoeic word, meaning the word itself sounds like the noise it describes—the loud, violent sound of something breaking. It was likely formed by blending the words "craze" (to break into pieces) and "mash."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Crash Out
Phrases Using "Crash"
Crash a party: To show up to a party or event uninvited.
Crash and burn: To fail spectacularly and completely.
Car-crash television: A television program that is shockingly bad but morbidly compelling to watch.
Crash course: An intense, rapid course of study on a particular subject.
Idioms for Sudden Elimination or Failure
Bite the dust: To fail, be defeated, or come to an end.
Go down in flames: To fail in a dramatic or disastrous way.
Bomb out: To be eliminated from a competition, often surprisingly early.
Bow out: To withdraw or retire from an activity or competition.
Fall at the first hurdle: To fail at the very beginning of an undertaking.
Idioms for Falling Asleep Quickly
Conk out: To fall asleep very suddenly.
Hit the sack / Hit the hay: To go to bed.
Out like a light: To fall into a deep sleep almost instantly.
Zonk out: To fall asleep heavily and quickly.
Pass out: To fall asleep from exhaustion or lose consciousness.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of crash out from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
