Browse all

churn out

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To make a lot of something very fast, like a machine — usually meaning the quality isn't very good

Literal meaning: A butter churn mechanically rotates to produce butter; 'churn out' transfers this mechanical, repetitive image to production

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To produce large amounts of something quickly and mechanically, often implying low quality

"The factory churns out thousands of plastic toys every single day."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To write or create content rapidly and in high volume, often at the expense of originality

"The celebrity blogger churns out three posts a day, but none of them say very much."

"He could churn out a novel in six weeks."

— Commonly attributed to remarks about prolific genre authors such as Georges Simenon in literary interviews
Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Almost always carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that quantity is prioritised over quality. Derived from the image of a butter churn mechanically producing butter. Commonly used to describe writers, factories, film studios, or students producing work rapidly and formulaically.

Commonly used with

content novels products reports essays graduates

Forms

Base
churn out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
churns out
he/she/it
Past simple
churned out
yesterday
Past participle
churned out
have + pp
-ing form
churning out
continuous

Understand "churn out" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "churn out" on Looplines