Browse all

bleed out

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To lose all your blood from a cut or wound until you die or are very close to death.

Literal meaning: To bleed (lose blood) until it is all out — very transparent.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To lose a life-threatening amount of blood from a wound.

"The medic applied pressure to the wound to stop the soldier from bleeding out."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic neutral

Figuratively, for resources, finances, or energy to drain away entirely.

"Poor management caused the company to bleed out over five years until there was nothing left."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Common in medical, military, and crime drama contexts. Highly clinical and direct. Also used figuratively to describe resources, energy, or finances draining away completely. The medical sense is frequent in action films, news reports, and emergency medicine.

Commonly used with

wound injury battlefield hospital patient economy

Forms

Base
bleed out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bleeds out
he/she/it
Past simple
bleeded out
yesterday
Past participle
bleeded out
have + pp
-ing form
bleeding out
continuous

Understand "bleed out" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "bleed out" on Looplines