pour S2 W3 /pɔː $ pɔːr/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: Perhaps from French dialect purer , from Latin purus ; ⇨ ↑ pure ]
1 .
LIQUID [transitive] to make a liquid or other substance flow out of or into a container by holding it at an angle:
She poured coffee for everyone.
pour something into/out/down etc (something)
Pour the oil into a frying pan and heat.
pour something away (=get rid of something)
The wine was so bad I just poured it away.
pour somebody something
Why don’t you pour yourself another drink?
2 . LIQUID/SMOKE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a lot of liquid or smoke pours out, it comes out from somewhere in very large amounts
pour from/down/out
Smoke was pouring out of the upstairs windows.
Blood was pouring from his nose.
3 . RAIN [intransitive] ( also pour down ) to rain heavily without stopping:
It’s pouring now.
It poured all night.
it’s pouring with rain/it poured with rain British English :
It was pouring down with rain at three o'clock.
4 . PEOPLE OR THINGS [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a lot of people or things pour into or out of a place, a lot of them arrive or leave at the same time
pour into/out of/from etc
The crowds began pouring out of the stadium.
Offers of help poured in from all over the country.
5 . LIGHT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if light is pouring into or out of a place, a lot of light is coming in or out
pour into/out of
Light was pouring into the courtyard.
6 . pour cold water over/on something to criticize someone’s plan, idea, or desire to do something so much that they no longer feel excited about it
7 . pour scorn on somebody/something to say that something or someone is stupid and not worth considering
8 . pour oil on troubled waters to try to stop a quarrel, for example by talking to people and making them calmer
9 . pour it on
a) to behave or talk in a particular way in order to make people like you or feel sorry for you
b) American English informal to try very hard in order to do something, especially in order to win a game:
The Raiders really poured it on in the second quarter.
10 . pour on the charm to behave in a very nice and polite way, in order to make someone like you
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ pour to make a liquid or other substance flow out of or into a container by holding it at an angle:
Jessica was pouring more wine into her glass.
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He poured me a drink.
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Raj poured some water from the jug.
▪ drizzle to pour a liquid onto food in small drops or in a small stream – often used in cooking instructions:
Drizzle a little olive oil onto the bread.
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Drizzle the lemon juice over the cake.
▪ tip to pour something out of a container by turning it upside down:
He tipped the cup of milk into the pan.
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She weighed out the flour and tipped it into the bowl.
▪ spill to accidentally make a liquid or other substance come out of a container:
Someone had spilled coffee all over the carpet.
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The tanker was leaking, and spilled oil into the sea.
▪ splash to pour a liquid quickly in an irregular stream:
Tony hurriedly splashed some cream in his coffee.
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Someone had splashed petrol over the steps and set light to them.
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She splashed some perfume onto her wrists.
▪ decant to pour liquid from one container into another container – a rather formal use:
Rachel decanted the shampoo into small bottles for travelling.
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He often decanted cheap whisky into bottles of more expensive brands.
pour something into something phrasal verb
if people pour money into something, they provide a lot of money for it over a period of time, in order to make it successful:
They’ve poured thousands of pounds into developing the business.
pour something ↔ out phrasal verb
if you pour out your thoughts, feelings etc, you tell someone all about them, especially because you feel very unhappy:
She poured out all her troubles to him.
pour out your heart/soul (=tell someone all your feelings, including your most secret ones)