to smooth out the rough edges
1
4.4
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
pulir
- I also have an easy idea of how to smooth out the rough edges without changing the contour of the flower.
Examples
-
She decided to smooth out the rough edges of her essay by revising some of the content.
-
The team worked together to smooth out the rough edges of the project before the deadline.
-
To ensure a successful presentation, he needed to smooth out the rough edges in his speech preparation.
Synonyms
93
4.0
Make something better by making a few small changes
46
3.7
To make a process or situation easier by removing obstacles
26
4.2
To make small changes so something works better
6
3.4
Make a process or problem easier by removing difficulties
1
3.8
To make something less rough by pressing it flat or by calming people
Antonyms
How Polished
118
3.9
22
3.8
- Informal
1
4.4
18
4.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
smooth + out + the + rough + edge
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from the physical image of making 'rough edges' smooth: 'smooth' (make even), + 'out' (remove irregularities) applied to 'rough edges' (imperfections), which maps clearly onto fixing minor faults. This metaphorical but literalizable mapping is common across languages and follows standard English verb+particle + noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows the words can readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Smooth out the rough edges paints a picture of someone sanding a wooden board to remove bumpy, rough edges. So the phrase means 'to fix small problems and make something easier or nicer'.