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pour out

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To empty liquid out of something, or to tell someone everything you're feeling inside.

Literal meaning: Liquid flowing out from inside a container — the emotional sense maps directly onto this image of releasing something held inside.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To transfer a liquid from a container by tilting or directing it outward.

"She poured out two cups of tea and handed one to her guest."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To express one's deepest feelings, troubles, or thoughts freely and at length.

"He sat down with his diary and poured out everything he had been feeling for months."

"I poured out my heart to him every evening."

— Winston Churchill, quoted in biographical accounts of his relationship with his wife Clementine
Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

For a large number of people or things to emerge rapidly from a place.

"Workers poured out of the factory gates at the end of the shift."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The literal sense (pouring a drink) is extremely common in everyday life. The figurative emotional sense is also widely used and not considered overly formal. 'Pour out your heart/soul' is a fixed collocation. Note that 'pour your heart out' is always separable.

Commonly used with

heart soul feelings grief tea coffee story troubles

Forms

Base
pour out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pours out
he/she/it
Past simple
poured out
yesterday
Past participle
poured out
have + pp
-ing form
pouring out
continuous

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Synonyms

empty out tip out offload unburden yourself open up confide

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