flesh this out

USAGE SUMMARY

"flesh this out" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to provide more detail or explanation about something. Example: Could you please flesh out your ideas for the project? We need to have a clear understanding of your proposal before moving forward.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

We'd always want candidates to have visited the school so they should be able to flesh this out with specific examples of what they thought based on their visit". "A candidate may have made a grand statement in their letter, but not gone into details about 'how' or the impact it had". "Liking young people.

The Guardian

We can begin to flesh this out by taking a closer look at the verses from Genesis.

Huffington Post

It is worth exploring the Froogle comparison a bit more to flesh this out.

Columbia University

In the Conservative manifesto, he can flesh this out with proposals for specific cuts.

The Guardian - Opinion

He added: "We need to flesh this out more before we declare we have a solution.

The New York Times

The hope is that this will happen quickly, but if it doesn't, the question is, Can we flesh this out to help them put a framework in place?

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

We'll be fleshing this out on the day with some live blogging of the event on TechCrunch Europe & TechCrunch.

TechCrunch

He could have fleshed this out by exploring the world outside the workplace and seeing how it helps constitute the social relations on the factory floor.

Vice

Manze had to flesh all this out, sometimes drawing on performance tradition and sometimes applying his own ideas.

The New Yorker

It also concluded that American officials failed to deal properly with information available as early as 1942.The new material fleshes this out.

The Economist

Thankfully, War Witch writer-director Kim Nguyen has fleshed this out fully in his 2014 film Empire of Scents.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flesh this out" when you need to provide more context or detail to a plan, idea, or concept. It's particularly useful after presenting a summary or outline.

Common error

Avoid using "flesh this out" as a substitute for actually adding specific and concrete details. Ensure that the additional information you provide genuinely adds substance and clarity, rather than remaining abstract.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "flesh this out" is that of a phrasal verb, acting as a directive or request for more detailed information. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase is used to solicit further explanation or expansion on a topic.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

33%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "flesh this out" is a common and correct way to ask for more details or elaboration on an idea. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across various contexts. It’s frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and scientific publications, making it a versatile phrase for neutral communication. When using "flesh this out", ensure you're adding concrete details, not just vague language, to truly enrich the content. Consider alternatives like ""elaborate on this"" or "expand upon this" for a slightly more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborate on this

Uses "elaborate" to emphasize the expansion of detail.

expand upon this

Replaces "flesh out" with "expand upon", focusing on growth in detail.

provide more details on this

Uses a more direct and explicit phrasing.

give a fuller explanation of this

Focuses on providing a more complete understanding.

develop this further

Suggests additional progression and detailing.

add more substance to this

Emphasizes making something more concrete and detailed.

amplify this

Implies increasing the intensity and detail.

illustrate this further

Focuses on providing examples for clarity.

explain this in greater detail

Directly asks for a more detailed explanation.

unpack this

Uses a metaphor for revealing more layers of meaning.

FAQs

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

You can use "flesh this out" when you want someone to provide more details or elaborate on an idea. For example, "Could you please "elaborate on this" plan so we can understand the next steps?"

What does "flesh this out" mean?

"Flesh this out" means to add more details, substance, or information to something, making it more complete and understandable. It's similar to saying "expand upon this".

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

Alternatives include ""elaborate on this"", "provide more details on this", or "explain this in greater detail", depending on the specific context.

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

While "flesh this out" is generally acceptable, in very formal writing, you might prefer a more precise and professional alternative such as "develop this further" or "give a fuller explanation of this".