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Glite Dictionary
to sketch out

to sketch out

9 3.5
Draw or write a short plan showing the main ideas
  • phrasal verb
  • /skɛtʃ aʊt/
translation icon : esbozar
  • Let me just sketch out some of the broad details first.
  • sketched out some ideas
  • sketched out a plan
  • briefly sketched out

So here he's sketching out the first aspect for us.

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Examples

  • I think at the beginning of the semester we had kind of sketched out the broad plan.

  • Someone hands me a pen and asks me to sketch out a particular idea.

    Blog text (4)

  • As the students sketch out their initial designs, there are several issues that need to be considered.

    Academic text (2007)

  • We need to sketch out the parameters of that camp in legal terms.

  • In what follows, I would like to sketch out this all-but-forgotten American political tradition.

    Blog text (17)

  • At lunch, my conversation with Carol Gordon made me curious as we sketched out a plan on a paper napkin.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Recently, the American philosopher John Searle sketched out what he thought constituted an appropriate liberal education for our times.

    Academic text (1991)

  • I sketched out the original idea for Alpha on a cocktail napkin and I showed it to Andi one night at the Glass Onion.

    Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

  • OK, so now that I've got my head pretty solidly out of the vibe realm and into some practicalities, I think it is time to go sketch out a design.

    Bernadette Banner

  • In the meeting, we will sketch out our main ideas for the project.

Synonyms

to outline
vsto sketch out
148 3.3

To give the main points of something

is briefer and less detailed and focuses on a quick overall view
to sketch
vsto sketch out
27 3.6

To give a short rough description of the main points

is used to present a brief general outline rather than detailed information
to block out
vsto sketch out
6 3.8

To plan something roughly without details

is aimed at giving a short general summary not detailed planning
to synopsize
vsto sketch out
1 6.4

To give a short summary of the main points

is similar but emphasizes condensing content rather than outlining structure
to chalk out
vsto sketch out
6.1

To make a simple plan or outline for something

focuses more on giving a brief descriptive outline rather than planning steps

How Detailed

to elaborate
79 4.2
to describe
∞ 1.0
outline
59 2.7
to sketch out
9 3.5
to mention
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

sketch out infinitive
sketched out past
sketched out past participle
sketching out present participle
sketches out third person singular

Morphology

sketch + out

The meaning 'to give a brief or general outline' is directly derivable from 'sketch' (to outline main points briefly) combined with the particle 'out', which here emphasizes presenting or laying something out without detail. This verb+particle composition is a common, predictable pattern in English, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily grasp the MWE.

Etymology

Sketch out comes from making a quick drawing that shows the main shape rather than the small details. Imagine an artist who makes a rough sketch and moves out from the tiny parts to show the whole idea, so sketch out means 'to give a short outline'.