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conk out

 - 5 dictionary results

conk

2  [kongk, kawngk]
Use conk out in a Sentence
–verb (used without object) Slang.
1. to break or fail, as a machine or engine (often fol. by out): The engine conked out halfway there.
2. to slow down or stop; lose energy (often fol. by out).
3. to go to sleep (usually fol. by off or out).
4. to lose consciousness; faint (usually fol. by out).
5. to die (usually fol. by out).
Origin:
1915–20; perh. of imit. orig.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Slang Dictionary
conk

and konk
  1. n.
    the head. : Where'd you get that nasty bump on your konk?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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conk out

  1. in.
    [for someone] to collapse, and perhaps fall asleep. : I was so tired I just went home and conked out.
  2. in.
    [for something] to break down; to quit running. : I hope my computer doesn't conk out.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

conk 
as in conk out, 1918, coined by World War I airmen, perhaps in imitation of the sound of a stalling motor, reinforced by conk (v.) "hit on the head," originally "punch in the nose" (1821), from conk (n.), slang for "nose" (1812), perhaps from fancied resemblance to a conch shell.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

conk out

  1. Stop functioning, fail, as in The engine finally conked out. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

  2. Fall asleep, as in Every evening he conked out in front of the television set. [1940s]

  3. Faint or collapse, as in I don't know if it was the heat, but she suddenly conked out. [1920s]

  4. Die, as in He's paranoid about conking out and he's only twenty! [Late 1920s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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