Spill Meaning
Spill Definition & Usage
To accidentally pour or cause a liquid to fall over the edge of a container, often resulting in a mess or loss of the liquid.
Examples
- "She spilled her drink on the carpet and had to clean it up immediately."
- "I accidentally spilled some coffee on my shirt during the meeting."
- "The waiter spilled the soup while trying to serve it."
- "He knocked over the glass and spilled water everywhere."
- "Be careful with the paint—it spills easily."
To reveal or disclose something unintentionally, often referring to information, secrets, or feelings.
Examples
- "He spilled the beans about the surprise party, ruining the surprise."
- "I accidentally spilled all the details of the project during lunch."
- "She spilled her heart out to her best friend about the breakup."
- "Don’t spill the secret! We need to keep it a surprise."
- "When I asked her about the trip, she spilled all the plans."
An event or occurrence where a liquid or substance is accidentally spilled.
Examples
- "The spill in the kitchen was a real mess to clean up."
- "The truck had a major oil spill on the highway."
- "There was a spill at the cafe that delayed the orders."
- "She had to report the spill of chemicals in the lab to the supervisor."
- "A milk spill in the supermarket caused a slippery floor."
Cultural Context
'Spill' has been a part of the English language since Old English, where it had meanings related to spilling out or destroying. Over time, its uses expanded, especially in informal speech, to cover the accidental dropping of liquids and the figurative spilling of information.
The Big Spill
Story
The Big Spill
It was a busy morning at the office, and Tom had just sat down at his desk, ready to tackle his mountain of emails. He placed his coffee cup carefully on the edge of the table, but in his rush to open a new spreadsheet, he knocked it over. The coffee spilled across the desk, ruining his notes and leaving a dark stain on his favorite notebook. 'Great,' Tom muttered, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at the mess. But as he cleaned up, he realized something worse: he had spilled his own secret. Earlier that week, Tom had promised to keep his team's new project a secret until the big reveal. But in his conversation with a colleague, he’d let slip some crucial details. 'Did you hear?' his friend Sarah asked, 'Tom's spilling all the details of the new product launch.' Tom froze. 'Wait, what?' he said, realizing that he’d spilled more than just coffee. He'd spilled the beans. With a sigh, he knew he had to go to his boss and confess. As he walked into the office, his stomach churned. He had spilled the news before the official announcement. After a quick conversation and an apology, his boss just laughed. 'It happens, Tom. Now, let’s make sure no more spills happen today.' He offered Tom a coffee, 'But this time, I’ll hold the cup.'
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