iron out (something)
Meaning(s)
1. resolve or work something out
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
iron out wrinkles/problems/issues
Analysis
The expression to iron out something literally means to make something smooth by flattening it or pressing it to remove creases. As an idiom to 'iron out' something means to resolve difficulties or solve a problem.
Social Examples (Basic)
- There has been a lot of negative back and forth between David and I recently, so we agreed to get together to try and iron out our differences.
- Living together has been a bit difficult and we've had a few problems recently, so let's sit down and iron things out.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- The new product is almost ready for release. There are just a few things that need to be ironed out first.
- Paul is meeting the buyer today to iron out a few wrinkles in the deal.
- I'm quite happy with the proposal I've written, but there are still a few details that need ironing out before it's ready to be presented to the Board.