flesh out

British  

verb

1. (tr) to give substance to (an argument, description, etc)

2. (intr) to expand or become more substantial

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flesh out Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flesh out

Perhaps he’ll flesh out his views a bit more, but don’t count on a major reveal.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

BlueScope will flesh out its plans for future shareholder returns, among other priorities, when it reports its half-year earnings later this month, Archibald said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

Trump says he will flesh out his housing affordability plan this coming week in a speech at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which strikes some as a curious choice of venue.

From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026

Together, these versatile actors help flesh out the Harlem neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

Guarded by Spot, a surly Dalmatian who took hunks of flesh out of reporters who got too close, he stormed around the barn and fretted, pouted and balked in his workouts.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

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