Dictionary

spin out en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (ambitransitive, idiomatic) To prolong; to make longer (in time or extent).
   • The film was spun out to three hours, despite the plot running out after two.
   • After Ashby summit it was difficult to spin out the more than ample schedule allowance. 1941 October, “Notes and News: L.N.E.R. Locomotive Performance in War Conditions”, in Railway Magazine, page 473:
   • Somehow I need to spin out this essay to 2,000 words.
   • Here we were nearly 8 min. early, and was now a matter of spinning out time, as indeed we did—losing 3 min. from Penrith to Carlisle!—in order not to run into Carlisle more than 5 min. early. 1957 August 14, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 568:
2. (intransitive, of a vehicle) To rotate about the yaw axis while skidding, such that the vehicle's longitudinal axis is no longer aligned with its direction of linear motion.
   • Two cars spun out on the icy road and wound up in a ditch.
3. (ambitransitive, of a driver) To cause one's vehicle to rotate about the yaw axis while skidding, such that the vehicle's longitudinal axis is no longer aligned with its direction of linear motion; or to experience such behavior from one's vehicle.
   • Bob accidentally spun out his Mercedes when he hit a patch of black ice.
   • The Formula One driver spun out on a tight curve.
4. To form a subsidiary company which continues part of the prior operations of the parent company.
5. (informal) To freak out; to experience a mental health crisis, especially one that is public or damaging; to be drawn into and derailed by a psychotic break, burst of anger, etc; to fail catastrophically, especially if caused by a freak out.
6. To be at the upper limit of one's cadence, and therefore unable to pedal faster, especially when there is no higher gear available, such as when descending very rapidly.

Forms

Synonyms

drag out (to make longer) · string out (to make longer) · spin off