C1 adjective #9,000 le plus courant 3 min de lecture

blurt

Explication de blurt à ton niveau :

When you talk, sometimes words come out fast. You do not think. This is to blurt. Example: You see a friend and you say 'Hello!' very fast because you are happy. You blurt out the word.

To blurt means to say something suddenly. You might be nervous or excited. You did not plan to say it, but it happened. For example, if someone asks a question in class and you shout the answer before the teacher finishes, you blurt it out.

The verb blurt is used when someone speaks impulsively. It implies a lack of control. If you have a secret, you should be quiet. But if you are nervous, you might blurt out the secret by mistake. It is common in casual conversation to describe moments of social awkwardness or accidental honesty.

Using blurt suggests a lack of inhibition. It is often used in narratives to describe a character who is unable to hold back their emotions. Unlike 'say' or 'tell,' 'blurt' carries the nuance of a sudden, involuntary action. It is frequently paired with adverbs like 'accidentally' or 'suddenly' to emphasize the lack of premeditation.

In advanced English, blurt functions as a vivid verb to characterize spontaneous speech acts. It is distinct from 'utter' or 'exclaim' because it implies a failure of the internal censor. In literary contexts, an author might use 'blurt' to demonstrate a character's psychological state—perhaps they are under duress, intoxicated, or overwhelmed by a sudden realization that forces speech into the open.

Etymologically linked to the notion of a 'blurt' as a sudden, explosive sound, the verb has evolved into a sophisticated tool for describing the intersection of impulse and communication. It is rarely used in formal or academic prose, as it describes a loss of decorum. However, in psychological or sociological discourse, it can describe 'unfiltered' communication patterns. It captures the essence of the 'verbal leak,' where information bypasses the cognitive filter and manifests as an immediate, often regrettable, vocalization.

blurt en 30 secondes

  • Verb meaning to speak suddenly.
  • Usually followed by 'out'.
  • Implies lack of thought.
  • Common in casual speech.

Have you ever had a secret that you were dying to tell, and then—oops—it just slipped out? That is exactly what it means to blurt something out. It is a verb that describes speech that is sudden, unplanned, and often happens before your brain has a chance to hit the 'pause' button.

When you blurt, you are usually not trying to be rude, but your excitement or anxiety gets the better of you. It is the opposite of being calculated or careful. Think of it like a soda bottle that has been shaken; when you open it, the liquid just bursts out. That is your words when you blurt!

The word blurt is a fantastic example of an 'onomatopoeic' word—a word that sounds like the action it describes. It first appeared in the 16th century, likely from the Middle English 'blorten,' which meant to make a wet, spluttering sound.

Historically, it was used to describe someone making a noise with their mouth, like a 'raspberry' or a spit. Over time, the meaning shifted from a physical sound to a verbal one. It evolved to describe the sudden 'popping' out of words, much like the sound of air escaping suddenly. It has stayed in our language because it perfectly captures that feeling of losing control over your speech.

You will almost always see the word blurt followed by the preposition 'out'. People rarely just 'blurt' a sentence; they 'blurt out' a secret, an answer, or an apology.

In terms of register, it is definitely casual. You wouldn't use this in a formal legal contract or a highly professional speech. Instead, you use it when talking about social situations, classroom settings, or personal secrets. It carries a slight connotation of regret or embarrassment, as if the speaker wishes they had kept their mouth shut.

1. Blurt out the truth: To reveal a fact suddenly. Example: He blurted out the truth when the teacher asked who broke the vase.

2. Let it slip: Similar to blurting, but often implies a mistake. Example: I didn't mean to tell her, but I let it slip during dinner.

3. Shoot your mouth off: To talk without thinking, often blurting out things you shouldn't. Example: Stop shooting your mouth off before you get us in trouble!

4. Spill the beans: To reveal a secret. Example: She spilled the beans about the surprise party.

5. Put your foot in your mouth: To say something embarrassing. Example: I really put my foot in my mouth when I blurted out that comment about his haircut.

As a verb, blurt follows regular conjugation: blurts (3rd person singular), blurted (past tense), and blurting (present participle). It is almost exclusively used as a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—the thing that you are blurting out.

In terms of pronunciation, the 'u' sound is a classic 'r-colored' vowel. In American English, the 'r' is pronounced clearly, while in British English, it is more of a long, soft vowel sound. It rhymes with hurt, shirt, skirt, dirt, and flirt. Remember to keep the 't' at the end crisp!

Le savais-tu ?

It is onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of air or liquid escaping.

Guide de prononciation

UK /blɜːt/

Long 'ur' sound, soft 't'.

US /blɜrt/

Strong 'r' sound, crisp 't'.

Erreurs fréquentes

  • Pronouncing the 'l' too strongly.
  • Missing the final 't'.
  • Confusing 'ur' with 'or'.

Rime avec

hurt shirt skirt dirt flirt

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to read

Écriture 2/5

Easy to use

Expression orale 2/5

Common in speech

Écoute 2/5

Easy to hear

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

Apprends ensuite

impulsive indiscreet spontaneous

Avancé

inadvertent unfiltered

Grammaire à connaître

Phrasal Verbs

blurt out

Transitive Verbs

blurt the truth

Past Tense Regular

blurted

Exemples par niveau

1

I blurt out 'Hi!'

I say hi fast

Simple present

2

He blurted the answer.

He said it fast

Past tense

3

Don't blurt it.

Do not say it

Imperative

4

She blurted a secret.

She told a secret

Transitive verb

5

They blurted out names.

They said names

Phrasal verb

6

I blurted my feelings.

I said feelings

Direct object

7

We blurted the news.

We said news

Past tense

8

Why did you blurt?

Why did you say?

Question form

1

She blurted out the truth by mistake.

2

He blurted the secret to his friend.

3

I didn't mean to blurt that out.

4

They blurted out the answer in class.

5

Please don't blurt out the surprise.

6

He blurted his feelings during the movie.

7

She blurted out a loud laugh.

8

Why did you blurt that out so fast?

1

I was so nervous that I blurted out the wrong answer.

2

The child blurted out the truth about the broken cookie jar.

3

She tried to stay quiet, but she blurted out her opinion.

4

He blurted out an apology before he could think.

5

Don't blurt out the ending of the movie!

6

She blurted out the news before I could stop her.

7

He blurted out a confession during the argument.

8

I accidentally blurted out his name in front of everyone.

1

In a moment of pure panic, he blurted out the entire plan.

2

She had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting out the truth.

3

He blurted out a sarcastic remark that he immediately regretted.

4

The witness blurted out the location of the hidden documents.

5

She blurted out her frustration, which shocked the whole room.

6

It was hard not to blurt out the answer during the competition.

7

He blurted out an invitation before checking his schedule.

8

She blurted out a secret that had been kept for years.

1

His tendency to blurt out unfiltered thoughts often caused social friction.

2

She blurted out a desperate plea for help as the door closed.

3

The defendant blurted out an admission of guilt during the cross-examination.

4

He blurted out a profound realization that silenced the entire gathering.

5

She blurted out a string of apologies, clearly overwhelmed by the situation.

6

The secret blurted out of him before he could process the consequences.

7

He blurted out a cynical observation that ruined the mood.

8

She blurted out her love for him in a moment of intense vulnerability.

1

The protagonist blurted out a confession that shattered the family's fragile peace.

2

In a rare lapse of professional decorum, the diplomat blurted out his true feelings.

3

The truth blurted out from his lips, unbidden and raw.

4

She blurted out the revelation with such suddenness that the room went cold.

5

His habit of blurting out uncomfortable truths made him a polarizing figure.

6

She blurted out a cryptic warning that left us all confused.

7

The words blurted out of her, a dam finally breaking under pressure.

8

He blurted out an oath of loyalty that he would soon come to regret.

Antonymes

suppress conceal withhold

Collocations courantes

blurt out
blurt a secret
blurt an answer
blurt a confession
blurt an apology
accidentally blurt
suddenly blurt
blurt out loud
blurt without thinking
blurt the truth

Expressions idiomatiques

1

"let the cat out of the bag"

to reveal a secret

He let the cat out of the bag.

casual
2

"spill the beans"

to reveal a secret

Don't spill the beans yet.

casual
3

"shoot from the hip"

to speak without thinking

He always shoots from the hip.

casual
4

"put your foot in it"

to say something embarrassing

I really put my foot in it.

casual
5

"blurt out of turn"

to speak when you shouldn't

He blurted out of turn.

neutral
6

"loose lips sink ships"

talking can cause trouble

Be careful, loose lips sink ships.

idiomatic

Facile à confondre

blurt vs burst

similar sound

burst is physical, blurt is verbal

The balloon burst; I blurted the news.

blurt vs blurt out

phrasal verb

blurt out is the full action

He blurted out the truth.

blurt vs blurt

blurt vs spurt

spurt is liquid

Water spurted out.

blurt vs blurt

blurt vs blather

blather is talking too much

He blathered on.

Structures de phrases

A2

Subject + blurted + out + object

He blurted out the truth.

B1

Subject + blurted + object + out

He blurted the truth out.

B2

Subject + blurted + that + clause

She blurted that she was leaving.

B1

Subject + blurted + a + noun

He blurted a confession.

C1

Subject + blurted + in + a + state

He blurted in a panic.

Famille de mots

Noms

blurt The act of blurting (rare).

Verbes

blurt To speak suddenly.

Adjectifs

blurted Already said suddenly.

Apparenté

impulsive describes the nature of a blurt

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

6

Échelle de formalité

Informal Casual Neutral

Astuces

💡

Memory Palace Trick

Imagine a balloon popping.
💡

When Native Speakers Use It

When someone spills a secret.
🌍

Cultural Insight

It implies a lack of 'filter'.
💡

Grammar Shortcut

Always add 'out'.
💡

Say It Right

Rhymes with hurt.
💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it in formal writing.
💡

Did You Know?

It is onomatopoeic.
💡

Study Smart

Use it in a sentence about a secret.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

BLURT = B-L-U-R-T (Bursting Loudly Under Rapid Thoughts)

Association visuelle

A soda bottle cap popping off.

Word Web

Impulse Secret Sudden Mistake

Défi

Try to catch yourself before you blurt something out today.

Origine du mot

Middle English

Sens originel : A wet, spluttering sound.

Contexte culturel

Can be seen as rude if directed at someone else.

Used frequently in classrooms and social settings to describe impulsive children or adults.

Used in many sitcoms to describe characters revealing secrets.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Classroom

  • blurted out the answer
  • don't blurt
  • teacher stopped me

Social

  • blurted a secret
  • regretted blurting
  • blurted out loud

Work

  • blurted out an idea
  • blurted a comment
  • unprofessional to blurt

Travel

  • blurted out a question
  • blurted in confusion

Amorces de conversation

"Have you ever blurted out something you regretted?"

"What is the best way to stop yourself from blurting?"

"Do you think blurting is ever a good thing?"

"Have you ever had a friend blurt out your secret?"

"How do you feel when someone blurts out an answer in class?"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a time you blurted out a secret.

Describe a character who blurts out everything they think.

Why do you think people blurt out things when they are nervous?

Is it better to blurt the truth or stay quiet?

Questions fréquentes

8 questions
No, but it describes a rude action.
Only if describing a character.
Blurted.
Usually, yes.
No, scream is about volume.
Yes.
Yes, in daily speech.
Not necessarily.

Teste-toi

fill blank A1

I ___ out the answer.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : blurt

Simple present tense.

multiple choice A2

What does blurt mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : To say suddenly

It is about sudden speech.

true false B1

You should blurt in a formal meeting.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Faux

It is too informal.

match pairs B1

Word

Signification

Tout est apparié !

Matching definitions.

sentence order B2

Touche les mots ci-dessous pour construire la phrase
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

He blurted the secret out.

Score : /5

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