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flush

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busted flush

1. Literally, a hand in poker consisting of four cards of the same suit and one that is different, i.e., one card short of a flush. I thought I'd finally win the hand, but when I drew the ace of spades, I was left with a busted flush.

2. A person, organization, or thing that at one time held great potential or influence but that ultimately ended up a failure. Jack left secondary school with great grades and a bright future, but he became addicted to drugs and turned out a busted flush. The company promised big returns to investors but turned out to be a busted flush.

See also: busted, flush

be in the first flush of

To be in the beginning or early stages of something. Of course they're happy now—they're still in the first flush of marriage!

See also: first, flush, of

flush someone or something out of some place

 and flush someone or something out

to cause someone or something to leave a hiding place. (Originally from hunting.) The police flushed the gunman out from his hiding place. They flushed out the crooks.

See also: flush, of, out, place

flush something away

to wash something unwanted away. Flush all this mess away! Fred flushed away all the leaves on the sidewalk.

See also: away, flush

flush something out

to clean something out with a flow of liquid. Flush the fuel line out to clean it. Please flush out the fuel line and clean it.

See also: flush, out

flush with something

 

1. Lit. even with something; sharing a surface with something. The edge of the sink is flush with the counter. The wood flooring is flush with the carpet so people won't trip.

2. Fig. [of a face] red with anger, embarrassment, rage, etc. He faced the woman he had dreamed about all his life. His face flushed with recognition and his heart pounded. Ellen's face flushed with embarrassment.

See also: flush

flush out somebody/something

also flush somebody/something out

to force a person or animal to stop hiding The military stormed the building and set it on fire to flush out the militants hidden inside. A hunting dog's job is to flush out whatever it is you're hunting.

See also: flush, out

flush out something

also flush something out

to cause something to become obvious We ran the new computer system for a week to flush out any problems with the software.

See also: flush, out

be in the first flush of something

if someone is in the first flush of something, they are at the start of it You're no longer in the first flush of youth, you know, Dad!

See also: first, flush, of

in the flush of

Also, in the first or full flush of . During a sudden rush of a strong positive feeling regarding something, as in In the first flush of victory he decided to take all his friends to dinner. This expression employs flush in the sense of "a bout of emotion or passion." [c. 1600]

See also: flush, of

flush out

v.

1. To empty or clean something by a flow of water or liquid: After coming in contact with the caustic substance, she flushed out her eye, which was red and puffy. The school nurse flushed the child's eyes out after he got fingerpaint in them.

2. To cause something to leave or be removed from something with a flow of water or liquid: She ran to the sink to flush out the dirt from her cut. My tears flushed the sand out of my eye.

3. To frighten someone or something from a concealed place: The golden retriever jumped into the reeds and flushed out the ducks. The passing car flushed the birds out of the thicket.

4. To drive or force someone into the open: The sniper is hiding in one of the buildings to the south and won't be easy to flush out. The army pledged to flush all insurgents out of the village.

See also: flush, out

flush

mod. wealthy; with plenty of money. Today I am flush. By tomorrow, I’ll be broke.

flushed down the tubes

Defeated. A 1950s college expression drawn from waste removal. After an exam that was more difficult than anticipated, a student might groan, “Man, did I get flushed down the tubes!”

See also: down, flush, tube