Block out means to stop light, noise or sun from getting through. The second meaning is to push something out of your mind, to try not to think about something or someone: block out bad memories, block out the pain.
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block out + light/noise/sun; block + it + out; block out + memory/pain; block + someone + out of your mind
- These thick curtains block out the streetlights, so I sleep much better now.
- I listen to rain sounds on the train to block out other people's conversations.
- For years she tried to block out the memory of the accident.
What changed
First versionI wear headphones in the office to block out from the noise.
RevisionI wear headphones in the office to block out the noise.
Block out takes the thing it keeps out directly, with no from: block out the noise, block out the light. So from was removed.
Block without out means to close off a road or to stop someone contacting you on social media: She blocked him on Instagram. But block him out isn't a button in an app; it's an effort not to think about him: I'm trying to block him out of my mind.
Your turn
My new neighbour plays the drums every night, so I bought earplugs to ___ the noise.
Show the answer
block out — Earplugs stop sound getting through, so block out the noise. Block up means to clog or seal something: a blocked-up sink, block up a window. That isn't what you do to noise.
Describe how you deal with noise or light when you need to work or sleep. Say what bothers you and what you use.
When my flatmates watch films late at night, I use noise-cancelling headphones to block out the sound and finish my work.
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