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definitions

rough-and-ready

[ ruhf-uh n-red-ee ]
/ ˈrʌf ənˈrɛd i /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rough-and-ready ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

rough, rude, or crude, but good enough for the purpose: a rough-and-ready estimate of future expenses.
exhibiting or showing rough vigor rather than refinement or delicacy: a cowboy—the rough-and-ready type.

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RELATED WORDS

conditional, interim, temporary, transitional, raw, sketchy, hard, unpolished, crude, imperfect, spartan, undressed, uncut, emergency, makeshift, expedient, impromptu, rough-and-tumble, substitute, temp

Nearby words

  1. rough sleeper,
  2. rough spin,
  3. rough stuff,
  4. rough trade,
  5. rough up,
  6. rough-and-tumble,
  7. rough-cut,
  8. rough-dry,
  9. rough-hew,
  10. rough-hewn

Origin of rough-and-ready

First recorded in 1800–10
Related formsrough-and-read·i·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for rough and ready

rough-and-ready

adjective

crude, unpolished, or hastily prepared, but sufficient for the purpose
(of a person) without formality or refinement; rudely vigorous
Derived Formsrough-and-readiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Idioms and Phrases with rough and ready

rough and ready

Unrefined or makeshift but available for use or action, as in The agenda is somewhat rough and ready, but it covers the main issues. [First half of 1800s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.