flesh out

verb

1. tr to give substance to (an argument, description, etc)
2. intr to expand or become more substantial

Idioms and Phrases

Also, put flesh on the bones of . Give substance to, provide with details, amplify. For example, The editor told her to flesh out the story , or You need to put flesh on the bones of these characters . This metaphoric expression, alluding to clothing a nude body or adding flesh to a skeleton, was in the mid-1600s put simply as to flesh , the adverb out being added about two centuries later.

Example Sentences

It must flesh out characters we already know, while accommodating new faces at the prison.

From The Daily Beast

In his childhood, he was put in a hospital for the criminally insane after biting a hunk of flesh out of his 9-month-old sister.

From The Daily Beast

Much of the work has already been done in official and informal (Track II) negotiations to flesh out the details.

From The Daily Beast

One thing we do need is a little more than one minute for these candidates to flesh out their answers.

From The Daily Beast

For weeks already, NATO diplomats are bustling about trying to flesh out the meaning of the 2014 date.

From The Daily Beast

I saw Marquesan women eating insects, worms, and other repellant bits of flesh out of sheer instinct and stomachic need.

From Project Gutenberg

With it he cut pieces of flesh out of his body and presented the Yakshas with them.

From Project Gutenberg

The fangs were so powerful that when I put my fingers to them, they literally tore a piece of flesh out.

From Project Gutenberg

His miracles are attributed to sorcery, the secret of which He brought in a slit in His flesh out of Egypt.

From Project Gutenberg

Before he could stir, two of them had bitten pieces of flesh out of the calves of both of his legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• add to
• appreciate
• augment
• boost
• build up
• complement
• enlarge
• heighten
• increase
• intensify
• raise
• reinforce
• strengthen
• upgrade