splash out on

Meaning

This casual phrasal verb means to spend a large amount of money on something, usually as a treat or luxury. It implies that the purchase is extra, indulgent, or celebratory, rather than a basic necessity.

Examples

• We decided to splash out on a fancy dinner to celebrate our anniversary.

  We decided to splash out on a fancy dinner to celebrate our anniversary.

• I shouldn't really splash out on a new phone, but my old one is so slow.

  I shouldn't really splash out on a new phone, but my old one is so slow.

• They splashed out on first-class tickets for their honeymoon.

  They splashed out on first-class tickets for their honeymoon.

• Instead of saving, he splashed out on an expensive leather jacket.

  Instead of saving, he splashed out on an expensive leather jacket.

• If you win the lottery, what's the first thing you'll splash out on?

  If you win the lottery, what's the first thing you'll splash out on?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I splashed out a new car.

  ✓ I splashed out on a new car.

  The preposition 'on' is required after 'splash out' when mentioning the item purchased.

• ✗ She splashed out on buying groceries.

  ✓ She spent a lot on buying groceries.

  'Splash out' is reserved for luxuries, treats, or expensive celebrations, not everyday necessities like basic groceries.

Related Expressions

Practice

• For his birthday, he decided to ___ a weekend trip to Paris.

  💡 Phrasal verb meaning to spend a lot of money on a luxury.

  Show answer

  splash out on

• I can't afford to ___ expensive designer clothes right now.

  💡 Fill in the missing three-word phrase.

  Show answer

  splash out on