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.

2. bedtime.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lights out¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Your firm’s IPO ETF has been relatively flat this year while the International IPO ETF is shooting the lights out, with a gain of nearly 40%.

Read more on Barron's

They then travelled to Rothley where they waited in Mrs Spragg's car with the lights out.

Read more on BBC

“From then on,” Bibens-Dirkx said, “he was lights out.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Bamboozle tour has just been lights out, out of control fun, and obviously playing some of my favorite cities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sasaki, the team’s surprise playoff closer, had been lights out in the postseason, with just one of the 17 hitters he faced reaching base.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• collapse 
• departure 
• dissolution 
• downfall 
• extinction 
• failure 
• passing 
• termination