out with it
out with it (imperative idiomatic expression)
/ˈaʊt wɪð ɪt/
Meanings
- Say what you are hiding or keeping back.
- Tell the truth or reveal something quickly.
- Speak directly without delay.
Synonyms: spit it out; confess; reveal; admit; say it; disclose.
Example Sentences
- I know you have something to tell me—out with it before I lose patience.
- When he kept hesitating, she said, out with it, and demanded to know what was wrong.
- The teacher noticed the student fidgeting and told him, out with it, so he confessed his mistake.
Origin and History
The phrase “out with it” is understood as a straightforward imperative construction. The word “out” conveys the sense of bringing something into view or speech, while “with it” refers to the hidden subject or matter. Combined, it produces the command: “bring it out now.” Some scholars believe the phrase gained popularity in theatrical and conversational English, where it was often used in interrogation-like dialogue. Others connect it to a broader family of English expressions such as “come out with it” and “spit it out,” which use a particle plus object to demand immediate speech.
Earliest Printed Evidence
The earliest secure printed example of “out with it” appears in the London quarto of the play A Woman Is a Weathercock by Nathan Field, published in 1612. The line, “’tis she must out with it,” demonstrates that the phrase was already established in colloquial speech at the time. The play’s printing in London firmly places the expression in English theatrical culture of the early seventeenth century.
The 1623 Folio Confirmation
A more widely circulated early use appears in the 1623 collected edition of plays, which includes the line “Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing” in Henry VIII. The publication of this major folio helped to spread the phrase and confirm its presence in both written and spoken English. By this time, “out with it” had clearly become a recognized part of conversational language.
Later Seventeenth-Century Usage
By the mid-seventeenth century, “out with it” appears in diaries, letters, and additional plays, often used in direct speech. For example, records from the 1660s show the command used in ordinary dialogue: “Out with it, man,” showing that the phrase had moved beyond the stage into everyday conversation. This shift highlights how theatrical English often influenced colloquial speech patterns.
Linguistic Development
The structure of “out with it” reflects a broader pattern in English where a directional particle combines with an object to signal utterance or disclosure. Similar phrases—”come out with it,” “say it,” or “spit it out”—follow the same logic, urging immediate expression. Over time, the meaning evolved from the literal idea of bringing a physical object out into view to the figurative act of revealing hidden thoughts or confessions.
Country of Origin
All evidence points to England as the birthplace of “out with it.” Its first printed appearances occur in London theatrical works, and its spread through plays, diaries, and manuscripts confirms its English origin. The phrase emerged directly from Early Modern English culture rather than being borrowed from another language.
Variants
- spit it out
- say it
- get it out
- let it out
Share your opinions