iron out

iron something out 

1. Lit. to use a flatiron to make cloth flat or smooth. I will iron the drapes out, so they will hang together. I ironed out the drapes.

2. . Fig. to ease a problem; to smooth out a problem. (Here problem is synonymous with wrinkle.) It's only a little problem. I can iron it out very quickly. We will iron out all these little matters first.

See also: iron, out

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iron out something also iron something out

to solve all problems that are still left The two sides need to keep talking until they iron out their differences.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of iron out small folds in cloth (to use a small, heated device to make cloth smooth)

See also: iron, out