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• rough-and-ready
  rough-and-ready

  adjective

  rough, rude, or crude, but good enough for the purpose.
• 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]

rough-and-ready

American  

[ruhf-uhn-red-ee] / ˈrʌf ənˈrɛd i /

adjective

1. rough, rude, or crude, but good enough for the purpose.

   a rough-and-ready estimate of future expenses.

2. exhibiting or showing rough vigor rather than refinement or delicacy.

   a cowboy—the rough-and-ready type.

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rough-and-ready British  

adjective

1. crude, unpolished, or hastily prepared, but sufficient for the purpose

2. (of a person) without formality or refinement; rudely vigorous

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rough and ready Idioms  

1. 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]

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Other Word Forms

• rough-and-readiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of rough-and-ready

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rough-and-ready rough and ready

To call this the rough-and-ready style of a workshop would not do as an excuse: A workshop requires workmanship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

The rough-and-ready stemmed projectile points, made from whatever rocks were on hand, differ significantly from so-called Clovis points.

From Science Magazine ● Dec. 22, 2022

According to an annual survey of new vehicle owners from the consumer-research firm Strategic Vision, the vast majority almost never employ their rough-and-ready vehicles for towing or off-roading.

From Slate ● Feb. 2, 2022

The City of Paris department store, begun in the rough-and-ready 1850s as S. Lazard and Company, for Solomon Lazard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2021

For news or mail or evidence of what Rachel calls The Pale Which We Are Way Beyond, we wait for the rough-and-ready airplane pilot, Mr. Eeben Axelroot.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

“I’m interested in better justice, not rough and ready justice,” Nicklin said.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2023

It was the sensibility of that work that I responded to, because it was just so rough and ready, and so fun, you know, and silly.

From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

"This is not at all what I am used to seeing by David Hockney," he added, describing it as "very rough and ready", with a "wobbly signature".

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2023

This rough and ready character, in Melissa McCarthy’s case, and this buttoned-up FBI agent.

From Slate ● May 31, 2019

They afford rough and ready guides and useful "rule of thumb" methods, though less certain and less accurate than those afforded by verified and definite science.

From The Scientific Basis of National Progress Including that of Morality by George Gore