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pound out

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pound something out

 

1. Lit. to flatten something by pounding. He pounded the gold leaf out very thin. He pounded out the gold leaf.

2. Fig. to play something loudly on the piano, perhaps with difficulty or clumsily. Here, pound this one out. A little softer, please. She was pounding out a nice little tune.

3. Fig. to type something on a keyboard. I have finished writing it. Can I borrow your laptop so I can pound it out? All the reporters were pounding out stories for the next edition of the paper.

See also: out, pound

pound out something

also pound something out

to produce something quickly and with a lot of energy I'm able to pound out at least three articles every week. He pounded out a couple of tunes on the old piano.

Usage notes: often used to suggest that something was not produced carefully or correctly

See also: out, pound

pound out

Produce, especially on a keyboard, as in I can pound out another résumé, or She was pounding out song after song on the piano. [c. 1900]

See also: out, pound

pound out

v.

1. To expand the surface area of something, as a metal, by striking it: The artist pounded out the metal plate until it was flat. The blacksmith pounded the iron out.

2. To arrive at some agreement after much discussion, argument, or negotiation: The warring nations finally pounded out a treaty. The manager pounded a vacation schedule out that everyone liked.

3. To write something very quickly, especially using a keyboard: The author pounded out the last chapter of her novel in one day. The article was due in two hours, so I went to my computer and pounded it out.

See also: out, pound