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iron out

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iron something out

 

1. Lit. to use a flatiron to make cloth flat or smooth. I will iron the drapes out, so they will hang together. I ironed out the drapes.

2. . Fig. to ease a problem; to smooth out a problem. (Here problem is synonymous with wrinkle.) It's only a little problem. I can iron it out very quickly. We will iron out all these little matters first.

See also: iron, out

iron out something

also iron something out

to solve all problems that are still left The two sides need to keep talking until they iron out their differences.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of iron out small folds in cloth (to use a small, heated device to make cloth smooth)

See also: iron, out

iron out

Work out, resolve, settle. For example, They managed to iron out all the problems with the new production process, or John and Mary finally ironed out their differences. This expression uses ironing wrinkled fabric as a metaphor for smoothing differences. [Mid-1800s]

See also: iron, out

iron out

v.

1. To remove some unevenness, such as a wrinkle or crease, from cloth by ironing: He ironed out the wrinkles from the shirt. She ironed the creases out.

2. To remove some obstacle or difficulty in the process of solving or compromising: The mediator ironed out the troubles between management and the union. The teacher ironed the kinks out of the overlapping test schedules.

See also: iron, out