1 B1 neutral
To drive a person or animal out of a hiding place by filling it with smoke.
"The soldiers smoked out the enemy forces who were sheltering in the tunnels."
separable
smoke out
B2 neutral separable transitive
To force a person or animal out of hiding by filling their shelter with smoke, or figuratively to expose someone who is hiding the truth.
In plain English
To make someone come out of hiding by using smoke, or to discover and expose someone who is hiding something.
What does "smoke out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To expose or reveal someone who is hiding, acting secretly, or concealing the truth.
"The investigation was designed to smoke out any officials who had taken bribes."
“
We will smoke them out of their holes.
— George W. Bush, address to the nation, September 15, 2001
separable
3 B1 neutral
To fill an enclosed space with smoke.
"The burning logs smoked out the entire cabin because the flue was blocked."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To drive something out by filling its hiding place with smoke.
Actually means
To make someone come out of hiding by using smoke, or to discover and expose someone who is hiding something.
Usage tip
The figurative sense (to expose hidden wrongdoers) is very common in political and journalistic language. George W. Bush famously used the phrase 'smoke them out' after 9/11, which reinforced its use in political discourse.
Words that pair with "smoke out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
enemy suspect terrorist informant truth secret
How to conjugate "smoke out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
smoke out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smokes out
he/she/it
Past simple
smoked out
yesterday
Past participle
smoked out
have + pp
-ing form
smoking out
continuous
Hear "smoke out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "smoke out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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