*out
an excuse; means of avoiding something. (*Typically: have ~; give someone ~.) He's very clever. No matter what happens, he always has an out.
*out
(from under someone or something) 1. Lit. out from beneath someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; crawl ~; creep ~; move ~.) Will you please get out from under my bed? The dog got out from under her just before she sat down.
2. Fig. free of someone's control or the burden of a problem. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; crawl ~; move ~.) Mary wanted to get out from under her mother. There is so much work to do! I don't know when I'll ever get out from under it.
*out (in blossom)
and *out (in bloom)[of a plant or tree] blooming; [of flowers] open in blooms. (*Typically: be ~; come ~.) All the trees were out in blossom. The daffodils won't be out until next week.
*out
(of something) 1. gone; having left some place; absent froma place; escaped. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The monkey is out of its cage. Sam is out of the building at present.
2. having no more of something. (*Typically: be ~; run ~.) Sorry, we are fresh out of cucumbers. We ran out of catsup and mustard halfway through the picnic.
3. free of the responsibility of doing something. (*Typically: get ~.) Are you trying to get out of this job? You agreed to do it, and you can't get out of it!
out (on strike)
to be away from one's job in a strike or protest. The workers went out on strike. We can't do anything while the workers are out.