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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

To cut out/give out (to suddenly stop working)

Hello,
Which verb is used more commonly in everyday English? I have heard people say "The oven/fridge cut out or gave out." Break is also very common,if not most common. I think that "cut out" is more commonly used in BE. At least in my experience. What do you say most often? Burn out can also be used, but I would only use it if the appliance is working due to overheating.

Thank you
  

Top answer

I remember when our electric stove of over 11 years (and who knows how many years in the house from the previous owner) "gave out" and was too old to find parts for. That expression was my wife's (and she spent her childhood in Mexico). When my electric refrigerator gave up the ghost, my daughter told me one morning that it had suddenly "died'.

— Wilpeter

  • I remember when our electric stove of over 11 years (and who knows how many years in the house from the previous owner) "gave out" and was too old to find parts for.
  • That expression was my wife's (and she spent her childhood in Mexico).
  • When my electric refrigerator gave up the ghost, my daughter told me one morning that it had suddenly "died'.
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12 Answers
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I remember when our electric stove of over 11 years (and who knows how many years in the house from the previous owner) "gave out" and was too old to find parts for. That expression was my wife's (and she spent her childhood in Mexico). When my electric refrigerator gave up the ghost, my daughter told me one morning that it had suddenly "died'.
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I live in Canada. I just say and hear
It stopped working.
It's not working.

It's broken sounds like there was physical damage, eg it fell off a truck.

Clive
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Thank you both gentlemen. Does that mean that neither of the phrasal verbs is common? I have heard "died" used this way. My ex girlfriend said to her mom: "Mom, the washing just broke." She is from England. Is "give out" common enough in your part of the world?
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You mentioned both "burn out" and "cut out". I think of an engine-driven device "burning out" because of the heat. An automobile "cuts out" when the fuel mix fails to satisfy the motor--but that's usually temporary. I didn't mention that my youth was spent in England with my mother, who must have contributed quite a bit to my vocabulary. When you wrote, "the washing just broke." I assume you m
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I am really sorry. I meant "washing machine". I have left "machine" out for some reason. I apologize. If washing machines break, can't toasters, fridges, ovens break too? I am not questioning you or Clive. I am just asking out of curiosity.
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As far as appliances are concerned, I would say:
It quit (working).
It died.
It gave out.
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Is "break" never used then? I take it if a machine/appliance stops working we can't say "The dishwasher broke." I wonder why "to give out" is never used in British English.
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Gene93Is "break" never used then? I take it if a machine/appliance stops working we can't say "The dishwasher broke."
Is it possible that you heard someone say broke down http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/break-down and misundersto
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I agree with Anon that versions vary with the country and even districts and this is heavily influenced by American input.
Still analyzing it though: For a major appliance to break down, fail, or otherwise stop working, something inside it has "broken" but it isn't as obvious to the homeowner as would be the "broken" kettle or toaster. Also, to be broken, there is the assumption that someone
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I will say that I am not making anything up. The lady I mentioned said "it broke", not "it broke down". I would only say "The car broke down." Do you use it in collocation with appliances.
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