hammer out

British  

verb

1. to shape or remove with or as if with a hammer

2. to form or produce (an agreement, plan, etc) after much discussion or dispute

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hammer out Idioms  

1. Work out with considerable effort, as in It took weeks of negotiations to hammer out an acceptable compromise. This usage likens intellectual effort to shaping metal with the blows of a hammer. [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hammer out

Bonn is where government negotiators meet every June to hammer out technical details and narrow differences over global climate action before leaders tackle the bigger decisions at COP31.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

Beijing’s top trade envoy, Liu He, engaged in roughly a dozen rounds of negotiations with Washington, often with large delegations, to hammer out a pact.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

Then everyone got together in a big room to hammer out their disagreements.

From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2026

The cease-fire would give U.S. and Iranian negotiators time to hammer out a deal, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

“So, I’ve got my mom’s car, and I was wondering if maybe we could do WaHo after school? Then we can hammer out the plans, and I can drive you home afterward.”

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

Related Words

• establish
• negotiate
• settle
• thrash out
• work out