When you flush a toilet, you press a part on the toilet to make water clean inside of it. This usually happens after you use the toilet.
Flush can also mean that your face turns red. This happens when you are very hot, or when you feel shy or angry. For example, if you run a lot, your face might flush.
§ Grammar and Usage
The verb 'flush' can be used in a few different ways, and understanding its grammar helps you use it correctly in a sentence.
- Transitive Verb
- When 'flush' is used as a transitive verb, it means that the action of flushing is performed on an object. In this case, you need an object after the verb.
Please flush the toilet after you use it.
Here, 'the toilet' is the object being flushed.
- Intransitive Verb
- When 'flush' is used as an intransitive verb, it means the action happens by itself, and there is no direct object.
Her cheeks began to flush when he complimented her.
In this sentence, 'her cheeks' are flushing, and no other object is receiving the action.
§ Common Phrases and Prepositions
While 'flush' itself doesn't always require a preposition, its meaning in context can sometimes be clarified with one.
Flush something down: This is commonly used when referring to disposing of something in a toilet.
Don't flush tissues down the toilet, please.
Flush with something: This phrase is often used informally to mean having a lot of something, especially money, but it's not directly related to the definitions provided for 'flush' as a verb. However, it's good to be aware of.
§ Examples in Sentences
Let's look at more examples to solidify your understanding of 'flush' in different contexts:
- Toilet cleaning context
- When referring to cleaning a toilet:
Did you remember to flush the toilet?
The plumber showed me how to flush the system to clear the blockage.
- Face becoming red context
- When referring to a face becoming red:
He started to flush with embarrassment.
Her face would flush whenever she had to speak in public.
§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives
The word "flush" has a few distinct meanings, and understanding them helps in choosing the right alternative. Let's look at the primary uses and similar words.
§ Meaning 1: To clean a toilet
- Definition
- To clean a toilet by making water flow through it.
When talking about toilets, "flush" is the most common and direct word. There aren't many direct synonyms used in everyday language for this specific action.
Please remember to flush the toilet after use.
§ Meaning 2: When your face becomes red
- Definition
- When your face becomes red because you are hot, shy, or angry.
For this meaning, there are several similar words, each with slightly different nuances.
- Blush: This is very close to "flush" when referring to shyness or embarrassment. "Blush" almost exclusively refers to redness from embarrassment or modesty.
She began to blush when he complimented her dress.
- Go red/Turn red: These are common, informal ways to describe the same phenomenon, often used for any reason for redness (anger, shyness, heat).
His face started to go red with anger.
- Glow: This implies a softer, often positive, redness, perhaps from health, warmth, or happiness. It's less intense than a "flush."
After her run, her cheeks had a healthy glow.
When to use "flush" for redness:
His face began to flush with embarrassment after he tripped.
The heat made her cheeks flush.
In summary, while "blush" is more specific to embarrassment, and "go red" is a general phrase, "flush" can cover a broader range of causes for sudden facial redness, including embarrassment, anger, or heat.
Exemplos por nível
The sheer audacity of his remarks made her flush with indignation, her cheeks burning crimson as she struggled to maintain her composure in the face of such blatant disrespect.
Sua audácia a fez corar de indignação, suas bochechas queimando em um vermelho carmesim enquanto ela lutava para manter a compostura diante de tamanho desrespeito.
Here, 'flush' is used intransitively, meaning 'to become red in the face'. The prepositional phrase 'with indignation' specifies the cause of the flushing. The use of 'sheer audacity' and 'blatant disrespect' elevates the vocabulary to C2 level.
Upon realizing the catastrophic oversight in the financial projections, a wave of panic caused the CFO to flush, his carefully constructed facade of calm crumbling under the immense pressure of the impending crisis.
Ao perceber a catastrófica falha nas projeções financeiras, uma onda de pânico fez o CFO corar, sua fachada de calma cuidadosamente construída desmoronando sob a imensa pressão da crise iminente.
This example uses 'flush' as a transitive verb with 'CFO' as the direct object, implying that something (the panic) caused him to flush. The vocabulary includes 'catastrophic oversight', 'financial projections', and 'impending crisis', which are indicative of a C2 level.
The antique plumbing system, notorious for its erratic behavior, would often necessitate multiple attempts to flush the toilet effectively, a constant source of vexation for the household residents.
O sistema de encanamento antigo, notório por seu comportamento errático, muitas vezes exigia múltiplas tentativas para dar descarga no vaso sanitário de forma eficaz, uma fonte constante de aborrecimento para os moradores da casa.
In this instance, 'flush' is used transitively with 'the toilet' as its object, referring to the act of cleaning a toilet. The sentence incorporates higher-level vocabulary like 'notorious', 'erratic behavior', 'necessitate', and 'vexation'.
Despite his unwavering stoicism, the unexpected compliment from the esteemed professor caused a faint flush to spread across the student's cheeks, betraying a rare moment of bashfulness.
Apesar de seu estoicismo inabalável, o elogio inesperado do estimado professor fez um leve rubor se espalhar pelas bochechas do aluno, traindo um raro momento de timidez.
Here, 'flush' is used as a noun, referring to the redness in the face. The sentence structure with 'despite his unwavering stoicism' and vocabulary like 'esteemed professor', 'betraying', and 'bashfulness' are characteristic of C2.
The burgeoning scandal threatened to flush away the politician's meticulously cultivated public image, leaving him exposed and vulnerable to the relentless scrutiny of the media.
O escândalo crescente ameaçava destruir a imagem pública meticulosamente cultivada do político, deixando-o exposto e vulnerável ao escrutínio implacável da mídia.
This example uses 'flush away' idiomatically to mean 'to get rid of completely' or 'to destroy'. The vocabulary, such as 'burgeoning scandal', 'meticulously cultivated', 'exposed and vulnerable', and 'relentless scrutiny', aligns with C2.
As the fever escalated, a crimson flush consumed her face, a visible manifestation of the body's arduous battle against the virulent infection.
À medida que a febre aumentava, um rubor carmesim tomava conta de seu rosto, uma manifestação visível da árdua batalha do corpo contra a infecção virulenta.
'Flush' is again used as a noun here, describing the redness. The sentence employs sophisticated terms like 'escalated', 'crimson flush', 'visible manifestation', 'arduous battle', and 'virulent infection', signifying a C2 level.
The sudden outburst of criticism caused a hot flush of anger to surge through him, compelling him to retaliate with an equally impassioned, albeit ill-advised, defense of his actions.
A súbita explosão de críticas fez uma onda quente de raiva surgir nele, compelindo-o a retaliar com uma defesa igualmente apaixonada, embora mal-aconselhada, de suas ações.
This example uses 'flush' as a noun phrase ('hot flush of anger'). The complex sentence structure with participles ('compelling him to retaliate') and higher-level vocabulary like 'outburst of criticism', 'surge through', 'impassioned', and 'ill-advised' are C2 indicators.
The engineer meticulously designed a system to flush out any potential contaminants from the industrial pipelines, ensuring the pristine quality of the manufactured product.
O engenheiro projetou meticulosamente um sistema para eliminar quaisquer contaminantes potenciais dos dutos industriais, garantindo a qualidade impecável do produto fabricado.
Here, 'flush out' is a phrasal verb meaning 'to remove by washing or forcing out'. The technical and precise language, including 'meticulously designed', 'potential contaminants', 'industrial pipelines', and 'pristine quality', is characteristic of C2.
Teste-se 36 perguntas
Please ___ the toilet after you use it.
To 'flush' means to clean a toilet by making water flow through it.
Her face turned red, she began to ___ with embarrassment.
When your face turns red because you are shy or embarrassed, it means you 'flush'.
It's important to ___ the toilet to keep it clean.
To 'flush' the toilet is the action of cleaning it with water.
He started to ___ when the teacher asked him to sing.
If someone starts to 'flush', their face becomes red, often due to shyness or embarrassment.
Did you remember to ___ the toilet?
To 'flush' the toilet is the correct verb for this action.
She will ___ when she finds out the surprise.
If someone 'flushes' from surprise, their face might turn red.
This sentence gives an instruction to flush the toilet.
This sentence describes a common reaction to shyness.
This sentence advises on flushing water for cleaning purposes.
This sentence gives an instruction to flush the toilet.
This sentence describes a face becoming red due to heat.
This sentence describes cheeks becoming red due to anger.
After finishing, please ______ the toilet.
To 'flush' a toilet means to clean it by making water flow through it.
Her cheeks started to ______ when she realized everyone was looking at her.
To 'flush' can also mean for one's face to become red due to embarrassment, shyness, or heat.
The heat in the room made everyone's faces ______ with discomfort.
In this context, 'flush' refers to the reddening of the face, often due to heat or strong emotion.
If you are feeling embarrassed, your face might flush.
The word 'flush' can describe when a face turns red due to embarrassment or other strong emotions.
You should flush the toilet before using it.
Generally, you flush the toilet after using it to clean it.
When you flush a toilet, you are making water flow through it to clean it.
This is the primary meaning of 'flush' when referring to a toilet.
The unexpected compliment made her cheeks instantly ___ with a rosy hue.
In this context, 'flush' refers to the reddening of the face due to emotion.
After a grueling workout, his entire body began to ___ with heat.
Here, 'flush' describes the sensation of heat spreading through the body.
The public outcry compelled the government to ___ out corruption from within its ranks.
Figuratively, 'flush out' means to force something undesirable out of hiding or existence.
He tried to ___ away the embarrassing memory, but it lingered persistently.
'Flush away' is used metaphorically to mean to get rid of or dismiss something, often an unpleasant thought or memory.
The sudden surge of adrenaline caused a hot ___ to spread across his skin.
Here, 'flush' is used as a noun, referring to a sudden reddening or sensation of heat, often due to emotion or physical reaction.
It's essential to ___ the wound thoroughly with clean water to prevent infection.
In a medical context, 'flush' means to rinse or irrigate a wound with liquid.
Listen for the nuanced emotional response described.
Consider the less common, idiomatic meaning of 'flush' in a financial context.
Pay attention to how 'flush out' is used to convey thorough cleaning.
Read this aloud:
Please articulate a scenario where one might 'flush out' an old, deeply entrenched tradition from a community.
Focus: flush out, entrenched tradition
Você disse:
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Read this aloud:
Discuss the various metaphorical implications of 'a flush of success' versus 'a flush of embarrassment'.
Focus: metaphorical implications, flush of success, flush of embarrassment
Você disse:
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Read this aloud:
Describe a situation where a politician might try to 'flush out' a scandal, and what strategies they might employ.
Focus: flush out a scandal, strategies, employ
Você disse:
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/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Exemplo
Please flush the toilet.
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