blot out

Idioms  

1. Obliterate, wipe out of existence or memory, as in At least one Indian nation was blotted out as the pioneers moved west, or The trauma of the accident blotted out all her memory of recent events. This idiom, first recorded in 1516, uses the verb to blot in the sense of making something illegible by spotting or staining it with ink. The New Testament has it (Acts 3:19): “Repent ye ... that your sins may be blotted out.”

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Example Sentences

So, if like Mr. Rao, you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2024

And few things generate awe like watching the moon blot out the sun and plunge a sunny day into erie darkness.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2024

As the moon lines up precisely between Earth and the sun, it will blot out all but the sun’s outer rim.

From Washington Times • Oct. 10, 2023

The smoke was starting to blot out the sun.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 14, 2023

He was feeling different tonight from every other night; he did not need to dance and sing and clown over the floor in order to blot out a day and night of doing nothing.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Related Words

• consume
• crush
• damage
• dismantle
• end
• eradicate
• gut
• impair
• kill
• maim
• ravage
• raze
• ruin
• sabotage
• shatter
• smash
• smash-up
• wipe out
• wreck