iron out the details

Meaning

This idiom means to resolve minor problems, questions, or difficulties in a plan, agreement, or contract. It is frequently used in business and professional meetings when a general agreement has been reached, but final specifics still need to be settled. The metaphor comes from using an iron to smooth out wrinkles in fabric.

Examples

• We agree on the main points, but we still need to iron out the details of the contract.

  We agree on the main points, but we still need to iron out the details of the contract.

• Our legal teams are meeting tomorrow to iron out the details of the merger.

  Our legal teams are meeting tomorrow to iron out the details of the merger.

• Once we iron out the details of the schedule, I will send everyone an invite.

  Once we iron out the details of the schedule, I will send everyone an invite.

• We spent the afternoon trying to iron out the details of the marketing strategy.

  We spent the afternoon trying to iron out the details of the marketing strategy.

• There are a few minor issues left, but we should be able to iron out the details quickly.

  There are a few minor issues left, but we should be able to iron out the details quickly.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to iron up the details.

  ✓ We need to iron out the details.

  The correct phrasal verb is 'iron out', representing the smoothing out of wrinkles.

• ✗ Let's iron out the detail.

  ✓ Let's iron out the details.

  The noun 'details' is almost always plural in this expression because there are usually multiple small points to resolve.

• ✗ We must iron out details.

  ✓ We must iron out the details.

  The definite article 'the' is necessary here because you are referring to the specific details of a particular plan or agreement.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The contract is mostly ready, but we need to ___ out the details tomorrow.

  💡 Think of smoothing wrinkles out of clothes.

  Show answer

  iron

• Before we sign anything, let's make sure we've ironed ___ all the details.

  💡 This preposition completes the phrasal verb.

  Show answer

  out