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flush out

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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 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

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