# flesh out

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/flesh-out
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To complete; to create details from a basic outline, structure, or skeleton.

## Examples

- I need to flesh out this idea before the meeting.
- The writer had a good plot but needed to flesh out the characters to make them believable.
- The committee approved the proposal in principle, giving the team three weeks to flesh out the financial projections and implementation timeline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.