Phrasal verb
slop out
Definition
phrasal verb. to empty a bucket of waste, especially human waste, from a prison cell that does not have a toilet.
phrasal verb. to perform the manual disposal of excrement and urine from a cell; historically associated with penal systems lacking modern plumbing. The verb is typically intransitive in this specific prison context.
Examples
“The prisoners had to slop out every morning at six.”
“Before the prison was modernised, inmates spent hours each day waiting for their turn to slop out.”
“The practice of slopping out was eventually condemned as a violation of human rights and phased out in favour of integral sanitation.”
Examples
simple
“The prisoners had to slop out every morning at six.”
contextual
“Before the prison was modernised, inmates spent hours each day waiting for their turn to slop out.”
complex
“The practice of slopping out was eventually condemned as a violation of human rights and phased out in favour of integral sanitation.”
Usage
primarily used in the context of British prison history; it can be used as a noun ('slopping out').
Teaching tip
this is a culturally specific term for British penal history; use it to discuss social reform or historical living conditions rather than everyday modern life.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
slop + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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