sing out

present singular third person sings out · participle present singing out · past sang out · participle past sung out

1. To cry out, e.g. when in pain.

   “My lad,” said Captain Cuttle, “don’t you sing out afore you’re hurt.

   1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 134

   3 more examples

   “But I have known men sing out dreadfully when punished; if they had got enough of rum, it would have supported them, and they would not have sung out.” “Not one drop for me, Charley Hunter; I shall not sing out, I promise you, if they cut me to pieces

   1848, The Autobiography of a Working Man, page 285

   The “Bulletin” “denies that we have been celebrating the birth of the Australian Commonwealth. Our so-called national celebrations have been prostituted to a Jingo military carnival, glorificatory of one of the most venal and ignoble wars of the dead century.” True, but the “Bulletin” shouldn’t sing out. The “Bulletin” whooped up for all they were worth for the gang responsible for the jingoism, crying throughout the fight “For God’s sake accept any kind of a constitution.” Unlike the boy in the picture, they’re not happy now they’ve got it.

   1901 February 2, “Plain Words”, in The People: Official Organ of the Australian Socialist League, volume V, number 211, Sydney, N.S.W., →OCLC, page [3], column 2

   Didcot had one definite pleasure. We knew that little boys would be going up and down the platform singing out, "Banbury cakes! Banbury cakes!" And mother would crane out and buy some, just to encourage the crew.

   1948 November and December, “By Broad Gauge to Cornwall”, in Railway Magazine, page 357

2. nauticalTo call out; yell.

   Vehemently pausing, he [Ahab] cried:—"What do ye do when ye see a whale, men?" "Sing out for him!" was the impulsive rejoinder from a score of clubbed voices.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “ch. 36”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   The pilot would sing out, “Ready about ship,” and the seamen would return answer, “Ay, ay, Sir,”—again he would sing out, “All ready,” and would be answered with “All ready, Sir.”

   1836, Richard Weston, A Visit to the United States and Canada in 1833, page 9

   This was the first time I had taken a weather earing, and I felt not a little proud to sit astride of the weather yard-arm, pass the earing, and sing out, “Haul out to leeward!”

   1854, Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, page 143

3. To call out to signal or advise of something, especially when prearranged.

   I'll be right outside. If you need anything, sing out.

   1 more example

   Let's both search the house for my wallet. If you find it, sing out.

4. To start singing.

   I’m gonna sing out: / I sing my song to the wide open spaces, / I sing my heart out to the infinite sea!

   1971, Pete Townshend, The Song is Over