out-and-out
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Financial, Encyclopedia.
out and out
1. adjective Absolute; total. Typically hyphenated and used before a noun. I don't think the guy is an out-and-out liar, I just don't completely trust him. The entire project was an out-and-out disaster from beginning to end.
2. adverb Wholly or completely. We're still hoping that the show won't be canceled out and out, but it remains to be seen. He accused the politician of out and out lying to the public.
out-and-out
Complete; utter; absolute; thoroughgoing. Always used as a modifier before a noun. Their lead singer is an out-and-out genius when it comes to writing music! That's an out-and-out lie! I demand you take that back!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
out-and-out
COMMON You use out-and-out before a noun in order to emphasize that someone or something is very clearly and definitely the kind of person or thing mentioned. His investment has proved to be an out-and-out winner. This was almost certainly an out-and-out lie.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
out-and-out
mod. complete or total; blatant. Don’t be such an out-and-out stinker!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.