conk out

verb

1. (of machines, cars, etc) to fail suddenly
2. to tire suddenly or collapse, as from exhaustion

Word History and Origins

Origin of conk out¹

C20: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Praying for sleep, perhaps, but the right to conk out near the table?

From The Daily Beast

"You better be thinking of getting us in, one of my engines is about to conk out on me," he called across.

From Project Gutenberg

I stared at Regis and demanded, "I didn't conk out, did I, from a little scratch like this?"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• break
• cave in
• crumple
• disintegrate
• drop
• fail
• faint
• fall down
• founder
• give way
• shatter
• topple
• weaken