To splash out

Posted by Smokey Stover on July 15, 2005

In Reply to: To splash out posted by James Briggs on July 15, 2005

: To 'splash out' on something is an expression used, at least in the UK, to indicate that something extravagant has been done, or is planned. "I'm going to splash out on a new car/pair of shoes/birthday party, etc". Why 'splash out'? It seems an odd way of saying this. Any ideas?

"Make a splash" is common to the U.K. and U.S., and although perhaps a bit dated is still in use. The OED records its appearance in print as early as 1804.
To "splash out," in the sense of spending money freely, even ostentatiously, is a shade less obvious (because of the "out"). "Splashing money around" was in common usage in the last century, but "splashing out" (tossing the money about, sometimes on something in particular) seems to be an Anglicism. It IS an odd expression, but no less logical than dozens of others. Why, for instance, "I'm going to cash out"? Perhaps that's not the best example, but I'm sure there are others. SS

• To splash out James Briggs 15/July/05
  • To splash out Smokey Stover 16/July/05
    • To splash out James Briggs 16/July/05
      • Cashing out Bob 17/July/05
        • Cashing out Smokey Stover 17/July/05