Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To eject the contents of one's stomach through the mouth; to throw up. This is a direct and informal phrasal verb for the act of vomiting.

Usage

The phrasal verb "vomit up" is used to describe the forceful expulsion of stomach contents. It is more graphic and informal than synonyms like "be sick." It is often followed by the specific substance being ejected. * Structure: Subject + vomit up + [object/noun phrase]. * Example: The child vomited up the medicine. * It can also be used without an object, though "vomit" alone is more common in that case. * Example: He felt nauseous and thought he might vomit up.

Examples

• With object:
  • The dog vomited up the piece of plastic it had swallowed.
  • She was so ill she vomited up everything she had eaten.
• Without explicit object (less common):
  • The motion of the boat made him vomit up over the side.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Can be used metaphorically to describe producing or expelling something unpleasant in large quantities.
  • The factory's chimneys vomited up thick, black smoke into the sky.
  • The scandal caused the newspaper to vomit up sensational headlines for weeks.

Variants and Related Words

• Vomit (verb): The base verb, meaning the same as "vomit up." It is more common when no object is specified (e.g., ).
• Regurgitate (verb): A more formal or technical term, often used in medical or biological contexts. It can also mean to repeat information without understanding it.
• Throw up (phrasal verb): A very common informal synonym for "vomit."
• Puke (verb): A very informal and blunt synonym for "vomit."
• Be sick (verb phrase): A common and less graphic way to say "vomit," especially in British English.
• Spew (verb): Can mean to vomit, but is also used for ejecting any substance in a large, forceful stream (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Throw up
• Regurgitate
• Be sick
• Puke (informal)
• Retch (specifically refers to the action of trying to vomit)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Throw up: The most common direct synonym.
  • The bad milk made him throw up.
• Bring up: A more polite or euphemistic phrasal verb.
  • The baby brought up some milk after feeding.

Related Idioms

• To lose one's lunch: A humorous or informal idiom meaning to vomit.
  • The roller coaster was so intense I almost lost my lunch.

Verb

1. eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
   • After drinking too much, the students vomited
   • He purged continuously
   • The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night