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View synonyms for lights out

lights out

noun

  1. Chiefly Military. a signal, usually by drum or bugle, that all or certain camp or barracks lights are to be extinguished for the night.


lights out

noun

  1. the time when those resident at an institution, such as soldiers in barracks or children at a boarding school, are expected to retire to bed
  2. a fanfare or other signal indicating or signifying this
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of lights out1

First recorded in 1865–70
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Example Sentences

Kind of like the feeling so many of us Lebanese have during power outages when, midway to the bathroom at 2:00 a.m., lights out.

But if whites provide 75% of the electorate … it's lights out in Chicago.

The place is always noisy, even after lights out, at 11 p.m.

Because if he leaves the party, we might as well turn the lights out.

A voice came from somewhere, a voice asking somebody also in a whisper to put the lights out.

The candle flickered on until "taps," when the guards, with unconscious irony shouted, "Lights out!"

"We don't need lights out at the pier," growled Boggs, comprehending the meaning of Lieutenant Overton's remark.

He advised Will and Elmer to come on softly with their lights out.

Soon the men began building fires and gathering about them, calling "Lights out!"

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