shorts out
Fries the wiring
Shorts out describes an electrical malfunction where current takes an unintended path, typically causing a spark, blown fuse, or equipment failure.
The phrase extends to sudden breakdowns of any kind: My brain shorts out when I'm sleep-deprived.
Something that shorts out stops working abruptly, often with dramatic effect.
- wireThin metallic conductor
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
- fuseProtective melting wire
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- power stripMulti-socket electrical device
resistor · circuit breaker · blown fuse · connector · surge protector · insulation · ground fault · spark · electrical fire · power outage · malfunction · goes haywire · transformer · smoke · circuit board · voltage drop · diode · brain freeze
shorts outwinds down
Gradually decreases activity
peters out · tapers off · deteriorates · powers down · erodes
short, shorts, out, outing, outings, shorten, shortened, shortening, shorter