Definition of look out

The phrase "look out" is a warning for someone to be cautious or wary of potential danger or harm. Its origin can be traced back to the mid-19th century in the English language. There are different theories as to the exact origin of the term, but the most widely accepted one is that "look out" developed as a nautical phrase that was adopted by other professions. The emergence of steamships in the mid-19th century introduced a number of new challenges for the sailors on board. One of these challenges was the risk of colliding with other ships, as the speed at which the new vessels were traveling was much faster than that of traditional sailing ships. To reduce the risk of collisions, sailors started standing lookout duty, in which they were stationed on the upper deck, scanning the horizon for potential danger. This lookout was instructed to use a loud voice to alert the ship's captain and crew of any approaching vessels or dangers that they had spotted. The phrase "look out" became a common expression in the seafaring world as a result. It was then adopted by other professions, such as coaches and car drivers, who included it in their vocabulary to warn passengers, passengers themselves, and other road users to be careful or avoid potential dangers. In summary, "look out" emerged in the mid-19th century as a nautical term, associated with steamships, to communicate potential hazards to the crew. Over time, its usage spread to other professions in which warning of potential dangers became a necessary aspect of safety and prevention.