drown out

Idioms and Phrases

Overwhelm with a louder sound, as in Their cries were drowned out by the passing train . [Early 1600s]

Example Sentences

As the players emerged on to the pitch, the Swedish fans held up a green and white choreography and drowned out their hosts.

From BBC

Brothers David and Mark Aurigemma tried to drown out the election day noise with a walk through Los Angeles State Historic Park on Tuesday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Cheers from the audience drowned out the first lines spoken by the Democrats' US presidential candidate.

From BBC

But his measured, bookish approach is often drowned out by the anguish and fury of crime victims.

From Los Angeles Times

In theory, this is to prevent prisoners in different cells from being able to shout to each other; in practice, it is to drown out the screams of those being tortured.

From BBC

Related Words

• hush
• muffle