conk out

Suddenly stop functioning

Conk out means to stop working suddenly or to fall asleep from exhaustion.

Machines conk out when they fail: The engine conked out halfway home.

People conk out when fatigue overtakes them: I conked out on the couch after dinner.

The phrase suggests abruptness—things don't wind down, they simply quit.

breakdown

stall

Enclosed compartment or delay

engine failureLoss of motor function
dieStop being alive
sputterEmit irregular popping sounds

malfunction · overheat · break down · give out · quit · fail · stop working · kaput · on the fritz · seize up

exhaustion

burn out

Exhaust through overwork

wear outDeteriorate through use
give outDistribute or fail
fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion

collapse · tire out · peter out · run out of steam · hit the wall · crash · deplete · drain · exhaust · bonk

sleep

doze off

Fall briefly unconscious

nod offFall briefly unconscious
drift offBegin sleeping gradually
fall asleepBegin sleeping

snooze · drowse · slumber · nap · crash · zonk out · pass out · drop off · siesta · catnap

malfunction

crash

Sudden violent impact

freezeBecome solid from cold
dieStop being alive
failBe unsuccessful

glitch · bug out · short out · fry · go haywire · stop working · error · system failure · blue screen · power down

Categories

malfunctionsbroken, defective, glitch, faulty, error
exhaustionexhaustion, burn out, drained, spent, tired
sleepsleep, sleeping, nap, doze, slumber
relaxationrelax, naps, break, rest, calm
deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, decompose, corrode
malfunction signscrash, freeze, stall, glitch, bug

Opposites

operational state

conk outstart up

Initiate or new company

turn on · fire up · kick in · spring to life · boot up

energy/consciousness state

conk outwake up

Become conscious again

come to · perk up · revive · rouse · liven up

manner of failure

conk outwind down

Gradually relax or conclude

peter out · keep going · soldier on · fade out · hold up

Family

outside, outer, outline, outing, outdoor, outcome, output, outrage, outsider

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G