hammer out
1. To strike something repeatedly in order to remove a dent from it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." I'm sure my mechanic could hammer out that dent in your door. One day, I need to hammer out all the dents the kids have put in the storm door. Can you help me hammer out this dent in my bumper? I backed into a stone planter while going faster than I'd like to admit.
2. To strike something, typically a metal, repeatedly in order to stretch it out and make it thinner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." We need to hammer out the iron before we can use it in this project. If you're going to make a sword out of that metal, you certainly need to hammer it out more. Has anyone hammered out the bronze yet?
3. To come to an agreement after lengthy deliberation or discussion. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." We're still trying to hammer out the details of this contract. Management and the workers' union still don't have a new deal? They've been trying to hammer that out for weeks! Sounds like the jury's hammered out a decision—we're being called back to the courtroom.
4. To play something on the piano. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hammer" and "out." I wonder how many lessons I'll need before I can hammer out an actual song. A: "I didn't know Jon could play the piano." B: "Me neither, until he hammered out song after song before my very eyes!" A: "What is that racket?" B: "I think your sister is trying to hammer out 'Hot Cross Buns' on the piano."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
hammer something out
1. Lit. to hammer a dent away; to make a dent even with the surrounding surface. I'm going to have to have someone hammer this dent in my fender out. It will take a while to hammer out the dent.
2. Lit. to expand something by hammering it thinner. He hammered the gold out into a very thin sheet. He hammered out the gold into thin sheets.
3. Fig. to arrive at an agreement through argument and negotiation. The two parties could not hammer a contract out. At last, we were able to hammer out an agreement.
4. Fig. to play something on the piano. She hammered the song out loudly and without feeling. Listen to John hammer out that song on the piano.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
hammer out
Work out with considerable effort, as in It took weeks of negotiations to hammer out an acceptable compromise. This usage likens intellectual effort to shaping metal with the blows of a hammer. [Mid-1700s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hammer out
v.1. To expand the surface area of something, as a metal, by striking it with a hammer: The artisan hammered out the copper plate before engraving it. The blacksmith started by hammering the iron out.
2. To arrive at some agreement after much discussion, argument or negotiation: The warring nations finally hammered out a treaty. The manager hammered a vacation schedule out that everyone liked.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.