0679 Black out - English Idioms

Explanation

Can mean several things, context is crucial:

1. To lose consciousness temporarily (faint).
2. To experience temporary memory loss, often due to excessive alcohol consumption (have a blackout).
3. To deliberately darken something (e.g., windows for a movie, redacting text).

This entry focuses primarily on the first meaning (losing consciousness).

Origin

For losing consciousness: Refers to the common experience of vision darkening or going black just before fainting.
For memory loss: The period of time is black or absent from memory.
For darkening: Literal darkening or obscuring.
The term has been used for power failures (blackouts) since the early 20th century, reinforcing the idea of absence of light/power/consciousness/memory.

Alternatives

(Consciousness):

Slang/Informal: Passed out cold, Conked out, Keeled over, Fainted dead away.
Formal/Medical: Lost consciousness, Experienced syncope, Fainted.

(Memory Loss):

Slang/Informal: Blanked out, Don't remember shit, Lost time.
Milder: Had memory lapses, My memory is hazy.

(Darkening):

Neutral: Darken, Cover, Obscure.
Formal (text): Redact, Censor, Obscure.

Situational Appropriateness

(Consciousness) Appropriate in informal and semi-formal contexts to describe the event factually.
(Memory Loss) Informal. Discussed among peers, potentially carries judgment.
(Darkening) Neutral, depends on context (can be formal, e.g., black out classified information).

Misunderstanding Warnings

The multiple meanings require attention to context. Ensure the listener understands whether fainting, memory loss, or deliberate darkening is meant.

Examples

(Consciousness) He hit his head hard and blacked out for a moment.
(Consciousness) She hadn't eaten all day and blacked out from low blood sugar.
(Memory Loss) I drank too much tequila last night and completely blacked out.
(Darkening) We need to black out the windows before starting the projector.

Dialogue

(Context: Losing Consciousness)

Person A: Paramedics just arrived next door. Someone collapsed.

Person B: Oh no! What happened?

Person A: Apparently, the old lady felt dizzy and just blacked out in her garden. Hope she's alright.

Person B: Gosh, that's frightening.

(Context: Memory Loss)

Person C: Last night was wild! How are you feeling?

Person D: Ugh, terrible. I think I blacked out after midnight. I have no memory of leaving the club.

Person C: Oh wow. Yeah, you were pretty gone! Don't worry, we got you home safe.

Response Patterns

(Consciousness) Concern, questions: Oh my goodness, are they okay? / What happened? / That's scary!
(Memory Loss) Surprise, judgment, concern, shared stories: Seriously? / Oh dear. / What's the last thing you remember? / Been there!
(Darkening) Acknowledgement, action: Okay, got it. / Let's find some curtains.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

(Consciousness) Ask about duration, cause, medical attention: How long were they out? / Did they see a doctor? / What caused it?
(Memory Loss) Ask about events, consequences: Do you know how you got home? / Did you do anything embarrassing?
(Darkening) Perform the action, ask about specifics: How dark does it need to be?

Conversation Starter

No. Describes an event or action.

Intonation

Emphasis on BLACKED OUT: He BLACKED OUT.
Tone varies with context: factual, concerned, alarmed (for fainting); embarrassed, regretful (for memory loss); practical (for darkening).

Generation Differences

Widely understood across generations. The alcohol-related memory loss meaning is perhaps more openly discussed among younger adults (teens to 30s).

Regional Variations

Common in all major English-speaking regions.

Feel like death warmed up / Feel like death warmed over

🎲 Come down with something

[0679] Black out