get-out

[get-out]

noun

1. Commerce.,  the break-even point.

2. Chiefly British.,  a method or maneuver used to escape a difficult or embarrassing situation; cop-out.

   The scoundrel has used that get-out once too often.

get out

verb

1. to leave or escape or cause to leave or escape: used in the imperative when dismissing a person

2. to make or become known; publish or be published

3. (tr) to express with difficulty

4. to extract (information or money) (from a person)

   to get a confession out of a criminal

5. (tr) to gain or receive something, esp something of significance or value

   you get out of life what you put into it

6. (foll by of) to avoid or cause to avoid

   she always gets out of swimming

7. (tr) to solve (a puzzle or problem) successfully

8. cricket to dismiss or be dismissed

noun

1. an escape, as from a difficult situation

2. theatre the process of moving out of a theatre the scenery, props, and costumes after a production

Word History and Origins

Origin of get out¹

First recorded in 1880–85; noun use of verb phrase get out

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as all get-out, in the extreme; to the utmost degree.

   Once his mind is made up, he can be stubborn as all get-out.

Leave, escape, as in With good conduct he'll get out of prison in a few months , or In case of a fire, we just want to get out alive . [c. 1300] This phrase is also used as an imperative, ordering someone to depart. For example, Get out! You've no business being in here . [c. 1700] Also see get out of , def. 1.

Become known, as in Somehow the secret got out . [Late 1800s] Also see out in the open .

get something out . Publish something, as in Once we get out the newsletter, we can concentrate on other projects . [Late 1700s]

Produce a sound, as in The singer had a sore throat and could hardly get out a note . [First half of 1800s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with get out .

Example Sentences

He is under contract to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but has performance-related get-out clauses if he wants to leave.

From BBC

Ms Brown urged Sir Keir to remove a "blatant get-out clause" for tech companies, as well as to prevent illegal material being shared in private communications.

From BBC

But they could employ a whole range of other get-out clauses within the FOI rules - known as “exemptions” - to either refuse release or to redact the papers down to blank pages.

From BBC

The Fight for $15 campaign, meanwhile, accused the board of letting McDonald's walk away "with a get-out of-jail-free card after illegally retaliating against low-paid workers who were fighting to be paid enough to feed their families" in a statement posted on X.

From Salon

At least one union believes this caveat is actually a get-out clause, and is still seeking clarification on what rights employers will have to refuse regular contracts, and to refuse requests for flexible working or compressed hours.

From BBC

Related Words

• avoid 
• break out 
• go 
• leave 
• take off