smooth out

smooth something out 

1. Lit. to flatten or even something by smoothing or pressing. Wally smoothed the bedspread out. Wally finished making the bed by smoothing out the spread.

2. Fig. to polish and refine something. The editor smoothed John's style out. You need to smooth out your delivery when you are speaking.

3. and smooth something over Fig. to reduce the intensity of an argument or a misunderstanding; to try to make people feel better about something disagreeable that has happened. (Fig. on {2}.) Mary and John had a terrible argument, and they are both trying to smooth it over. Let's get everyone together and try to smooth things out. We can't keep on arguing with one another. We can smooth over the whole affair.

See also: out, smooth

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smooth out something also smooth something out

to make differences smaller The two countries are working hard to smooth out their disagreements. A monthly average of sales smooths the highs and lows out and gives a more accurate idea of business activity.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of smooth out (to make regular)

See also: out, smooth