Black out

Meaning

The idiom "black out" means to lose consciousness or to become unconscious due to lack of oxygen, injury, illness, or other reasons. It can also refer to a power outage that causes the lights and other electrical devices to go off. In metaphorical terms, it can mean to forget something important or to be overwhelmed by a situation.

Usage

• John blacked out during the final seconds of the game.
• The city experienced a blackout last night due to a storm.
• She blacked out while giving a presentation in front of a large audience.
• He forgot his car keys and had to black out until he could remember them.
• The news about the pandemic caused me to black out with fear.

Roots and History

The idiom "black out" has been used since at least the 19th century. It originally referred to a complete loss of consciousness or memory. However, over time, it has taken on several other meanings, including being overwhelmed by a situation or forgetting something important. In modern times, it is also commonly used to refer to a power outage that causes the lights and other electrical devices to go off.

Synonyms in English

• Faint
• Pass out
• Blacked out
• Lost consciousness
• Collapsed

Synonyms in other languages

• French - Étesse
• Spanish - Pasar de sangre
• German - Verlorenheitskrise
• Italian - Svenimento
• Dutch - Wegenschenen Note that the synonyms listed are not always exact translations of the idiom, but rather related concepts or phrases with similar meanings in different languages.

Similar Idioms

• bone of contention

• bird of passage

• by the way