# watch out

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/watch-out
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be aware or conscious; to look closely or carefully; to use caution. Often used in the imperative.

## Examples

- Watch out for the cars when you cross the street.
- You should watch out for slippery floors because the cleaning crew just finished mopping the hallway.
- The guide warned the hikers to watch out for loose rocks along the narrow mountain path, as a single misstep could prove fatal.

## Origin

From *watch* + *out*. The compound appears in English as a phrasal verb formed from its constituent parts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.