iron out
1. Literally, to remove wrinkles from something, especially a piece of fabric, using a flatiron. Please iron out the crease in my slacks, I like them flat in the front. I'm sure the hotel has an iron, but I hate having to iron out clothes on vacation. I have to iron out this tablecloth before our guests arrive!
2. By extension, to ease, solve, or remove minor difficulties, troubles, or problematic details (of or in something). Our latest software update is nearly finished—we just need to iron out a few things before it's ready for release. Your friends and family are a great source of support when you need to iron out the issues in your life. Bob and Janet are seeing a counselor to try to iron out the kinks in their marriage.
iron out the details
cliché To fix, resolve, or finalize any outstanding details (of something, such as an agreement or arrangement). We've drawn up a preliminary contract—we just need to iron out the details before we're ready for you to sign. It is expected to take the better part of a year for the two nations to iron out the details of this historic trade agreement. Our latest software update is nearly finished—we just need to iron out the details before it's ready for release.
iron out the difficulties
To ease, solve, or remove difficulties, troubles, or problematic details (of or in something). There's been so much miscommunication that I think I need to sit down with our head developers to iron out the difficulties. Otherwise, the launch of our app could be delayed even further. We've drawn up a preliminary contract—we just need to iron out the difficulties before presenting it to the client. Our latest software update is nearly finished—we just need to iron out the difficulties before it's ready for release.
iron out the kinks
To remove or fix any small problems that are present in something, such as a project. The main development is finished, we just need to iron out the kinks before we release the product. We've drawn up a preliminary contract—we just need to iron out the kinks before we're ready for you to sign. It is expected to take the better part of a year for the two nations to iron out the kinks of this historic trade agreement.
stop ironing my head
Stop irritating me and leave me alone. Stop ironing my head, pal! No one wants to hear you talking for the entire course of the film.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
iron out
Work out, resolve, settle. For example, They managed to iron out all the problems with the new production process, or John and Mary finally ironed out their differences. This expression uses ironing wrinkled fabric as a metaphor for smoothing differences. [Mid-1800s]
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.