flesh it out

USAGE SUMMARY

"flesh it out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom commonly used to mean providing more detail or information about something. For example: "Our proposal is a good start, but we need to flesh it out before we can present it to the board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If the hatch is somewhat stingy, so is the basic interior: It fairly rattles its bare bones, urging you to flesh it out with options.

The New York Times

Individual stories flesh it out.

The New York Times - Arts

QT: It's not my job to flesh it out.

Independent

"We had to flesh it out," Mr. Nelson said.

The New York Times

Flesh it out please, and do so with specifics.

The New York Times

He worked hard to flesh it out, to figure Pat out.

The New York Times

One would need to flesh it out in the next few weeks.

The Guardian

For this single idea, they will flesh it out to the next stage of prototype: the Storyboard.

Stanford University

He seems eager to retrieve the "compassionate conservative" label and flesh it out.

The New York Times

("I see a... hunchback. You flesh it out," is a line late in Ms. Freed's play).

The New York Times

When you flesh it out, Andrewsarchus is a very odd-looking animal".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "flesh it out", ensure you have a clear foundational idea before adding details. This prevents the details from overwhelming the core concept.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary or irrelevant details when you "flesh it out". Focus on details that enhance and clarify the core idea, not distract from it.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "flesh it out" functions as a directive, often used to encourage or instruct someone to provide more detail, substance, or development to an existing idea, plan, or concept. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flesh it out" is a widely used and grammatically sound phrasal verb that encourages the addition of details to an idea or plan. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this expression is versatile, appearing frequently in news, media, and academic writing, though less common in strictly formal or scientific contexts. When using this phrase, make sure that you add details that clarify the topic. While there are many alternatives, such as "elaborate on it" or "expand upon it", "flesh it out" remains a vivid and effective way to prompt further development and specification. Considering the authoritative sources where it appears, "flesh it out" is a reliable tool for enriching communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborate on it

Focuses on providing further details and expanding on the existing information.

expand upon it

Emphasizes the act of broadening the scope and adding more substance.

develop it further

Highlights the continuous growth and evolution of the idea or plan.

add more detail

Directly refers to the act of incorporating additional specific elements.

fill in the details

Suggests completing the missing parts and providing a more comprehensive picture.

build upon it

Implies constructing something larger and more complete from an existing base.

amplify it

Focuses on increasing the impact or intensity by providing further explanation.

substantiate it

Emphasizes the act of providing evidence and support to make the idea more solid.

give it substance

Highlights the addition of meaningful content to make the idea more real and impactful.

round it out

Suggests completing the idea by adding the final touches and making it well-rounded.

FAQs

How can I use "flesh it out" in a sentence?

You can use "flesh it out" when you want to add more details to an idea. For example, "The initial proposal is promising, but we need to "flesh it out" with specific data and examples."

What are some alternatives to saying "flesh it out"?

Instead of "flesh it out", you could use phrases like "elaborate on it", "expand upon it", or "develop it further" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "flesh it out" in formal writing?

While "flesh it out" is widely understood, it's generally more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "elaborate on it" or "provide further details".

What does it mean to "flesh out" a character in a story?

To ""flesh it out"" when describing a character means to add more depth and complexity to their personality, backstory, and motivations, making them more believable and relatable.