English

Verb

fall out ‎(third-person singular simple present falls out, present participle falling out, simple past fell out, past participle fallen out)

1. (literally) To come out of something by falling.

   I opened the cupboard and a can fell out on to my foot.

2. (intransitive, idiomatic) To cease to be on friendly terms.

   Dave and I fell out after a long argument.

   • 2011 December 14, Steven Morris, “Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave”, in Guardian:

     Before the incident Robins had fallen out with Knutton, 30. Knutton had made a complaint over Robins' boyfriend.

3. (military, intransitive)
   1. (literally) to leave one's place in the current formation of ranks in order to take one's place in a new formation.
   2. (figuratively) To leave one's current location to report for duty at a new location.

      The company fell out for an artillery drill.

4. (dialect, intransitive) To pass out.
5. (dated) To turn out, happen.
   • 1866, Mark Twain, in a letter to William Bowen, 7 May 1866

     I expected to be in the States long before this, but things fell out otherwise.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• fall out in
• fall out of flesh
• fall out of lease
• fall out upon

Anagrams

• outfall