fall outnoun

• 1

  Synonym of falling out (“rift following a disagreement or quarrel”).

  • We had a fall out, couldn't come to terms and haven't talked since.
  • I've had a fall out with Nora, one of my tenants. She's packing up and leaving at this very moment.

fall outverb

• 1

  To come out of something by falling.

  • I opened the cupboard and a can fell out onto my foot.
  • Part of No. 10 platform at Kings Cross was cordoned off on August 23 after a container of radio-active material had fallen from a trolley. The special box in which it was packed split open, allowing the container to fall out.
• 2

  To cease to be on friendly terms.

  • Dave and I fell out after a long argument.
  • Petronius calleth this paſſion [i.e., jealousy] amantium furioſam æmulationem, a furious emulation, and their ſymptomes are well expreſſed by Sʳ Ieffrey Chaucer in his firſt Canterbury tale. It will make the neareſt & deareſt friends fall out; they will endure al other things to be common, goods, lands, moneyes, participate of all other pleaſures, and take in good part any diſgraces, iniuries in another kind, but as Propertius well deſcribes it in an Elegie of his, in this they will ſuffer nothing, have no corriuals.
• 3

  governmentmilitarypoliticsTo leave one's place in the current formation of ranks in order to take one's place in a new formation.

• 4

  governmentmilitarypoliticsTo leave one's current location to report for duty at a new location.

  • The company fell out for an artillery drill.
• 5

  dialectalTo pass out.

• 6

  datedTo turn out, happen.

  • Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
  • I expected to be in the States long before this, but things fell out otherwise.
• 7

  obsoletemediaprintingpublishingTo fall off due to the quoins holding it in place having become wet and therefore loose.

• 8

  To give way under someone.

  • The board he was walking on fell out.