crashing out

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/ˈkræʃɪŋ aʊt/
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A rapid drop into sleep, an intense emotional breakdown, or a quick elimination from a contest.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • After the marathon, I was crashing out on the couch.
  • She crashed out after hearing the unfair verdict.
  • The crowd crashed out when the band cancelled.
  • They crash out of the tournament every year.
  • She crashed out as soon as the lights went off.

Similar words

freaking out
conking out
knocked out
sacking out
melting down
sent home
nodding off
flipping out
tapped out
swept out

Meanings

Fall asleep suddenly from exhaustion

everyday
neutral
To go to sleep very quickly because you are extremely tired

Usage

Use crashing out when you want to describe falling asleep abruptly due to fatigue

Examples

  • After the marathon, I was crashing out on the couch.
  • She crashed out as soon as the lights went off.
  • They might crash out early if the flight is delayed.
  • We always crash out after a night shift.
  • He was crashing out before the exam started.

Common mistakes

Confusing the sleep sense with the anger sense
IncorrectCorrect
He was crashing out after the meeting because he was annoyed. He was crashing out after the meeting because he was exhausted.
She crashed out the tournament, but she was just tired. She crashed out after the tournament, but she was just tired.
I crash out my laptop when I need to rest. I crash out when I need to rest.

Similar words

dozing off
conking out
dropping off
nodding off
falling asleep
hitting the sack
sacking out

Lose control in a burst of anger

slang
informal
To become suddenly and intensely angry or upset, often in a dramatic or public way

Usage

Use crashing out to describe an explosive emotional outburst

Examples

  • When the server went down, the admin crashed out in the chat.
  • She crashed out after hearing the unfair verdict.
  • They crash out whenever someone criticizes their ideas.
  • I felt like crashing out when the meeting dragged on.
  • The crowd crashed out when the band cancelled.

Common mistakes

Mixing the anger sense with the sleep sense
IncorrectCorrect
She was crashing out after the long drive because she was tired. She was crashing out after the long drive because she was furious.
He crashed out the game when he missed the shot. He crashed out in anger when he missed the shot.
I crash out my coffee when I'm stressed. I crash out when I'm stressed.

Similar words

blowing up
losing it
melting down
flipping out
going off
snapping
freaking out

Be eliminated from a contest

sports
neutral
To be defeated or knocked out of a competition, especially in a sudden or decisive way

Usage

Use crashing out when a team or player is eliminated from a tournament

Examples

  • Our team crashed out in the quarterfinals.
  • He crashed out of the race after the crash.
  • They crash out of the tournament every year.
  • She feared crashing out early in the competition.
  • The boxer crashed out after the first round.

Common mistakes

Applying the phrase to winning situations
IncorrectCorrect
Our team crashed out the championship last year. Our team crashed out of the championship last year.
He crashed out the race and won the gold. He crashed out of the race and did not finish.
She crashed out the match, but she was actually leading. She crashed out of the match, but she was actually leading.

Similar words

knocked out
eliminated
ousted
swept out
tapped out
disqualified
sent home

Usage

Choose crashing out for sudden sleep, a dramatic anger flare, or a knockout loss, matching the context you need.

Common mistakes

Using crashing out for a mild irritation instead of a strong outburst is a frequent error.

Etymology

From the verb crash, meaning to fall or collide, combined with out in the 19th century to form the phrasal verb, later broadened in slang to cover emotional and competitive contexts.

FAQ

What does crashing out mean when someone says they are crashing out after a long day?

It means they fell asleep quickly because they were exhausted.

How is crashing out used to describe an angry reaction?

It refers to a sudden, intense outburst of anger or distress.

Can crashing out be used in sports contexts?

Yes, it describes a team or player being eliminated from a competition.

Is crashing out considered formal or informal?

It is informal slang and is not used in formal writing.

Where does the phrase crashing out come from?

It originates from the verb “crash” meaning to fall, combined with “out” in the 19th century, later adopted in slang.

What are common mistakes when using crashing out?

A common mistake is using it for a mild annoyance instead of a strong emotional outburst.

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