to spell out
79
3.5
- phrasal verb
- /spɛl aʊt/
:
explicar
- And this is not to spread alarm, this is to spell out the reality.
- spell out the details
- spell out what they mean
- spell out what is needed
Could you just spell out this first year principle?
- Could you just spell out this first year principle?
- You know, they, we spell out all the trustee responsibilities.
- And again I'll spell out what each of those terms mean.
- Some of these things don't exactly spell out COVID relief.
- And, and in which really the downside of treatment is never really spelt out.
- And, and I like doing things that don't necessarily spell out exactly what you should think or feel.
- And yeah, you're looking for clues like that so that everything doesn't have to be spelled out.
- It doesn't feel good in an adult relationship to have to keep spelling out every small thing.
- So this is an important narrative that's being spelled out here.
- And you've, you've so graciously spelled out how we can do that regardless of resources.
- And could you spell out what FOSTA slash Festa actually stands for?
Examples
-
And again I'll spell out what each of those terms mean.
-
The work they must do is easier to spell out in negative than in positive terms.
Academic text (1999) -
Why should a woman need to spell it out for him?
Fiction book (1999) -
Could you just spell out this first year principle?
-
Maybe we should also just spell out what that stands for.
-
So let me just spell out what today's agenda is going to be.
-
All systems have essential or operational rules that spell out what satisficing means in context.
Academic text (1990) -
Let's draw up a contract that spells out a win-win solution.
Fiction book (1999) -
Neither government nor industry representatives have spelled out to the committee how these tasks might be accomplished.
Academic text (1994) -
The teacher asked the students to spell out their ideas for the project clearly.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To make something clear by describing it in simple words
∞
1.0
To use words to show what a person or thing is like
∞
1.6
To say or write something clearly and officially
252
1.0
To make the shape or edges of something clear
207
3.2
To explain something clearly and in detail
118
3.5
To give clear, exact details about something
38
3.5
Put information into a complete report
34
2.7
Say or write something so people have no doubt
29
4.2
To state something clearly in writing or speech
25
2.4
Put all the details on a form or paper
20
7.3
Explain something in detail so people understand it
14
3.4
To explain something carefully and include all important points
11
6.8
To explain something so it is easy to understand
8
5.8
To state an idea clearly so people understand
5
6.8
To describe something clearly and in detail
3
7.4
To explain something clearly in detail
3
3.5
Make an idea or opinion clear so others understand
1
9.9
To talk or write for a long time about a subject
To explain a person's thinking and say why they think that way
To explain an idea or meaning in detail
Antonyms
How Clear
Surface Forms
Morphology
spell + out
The sense 'to state or explain clearly' is a metaphorical extension of 'spell' (to name/write letters) with 'out' adding a sense of making something fully explicit or public. The connection is partly predictable from the constituents but relies on a figurative use of 'spell', so a B1 learner who knows the words might guess the general idea but not reliably derive the exact meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Spell out is also used in a figurative way: just as you say every letter to make a word clear, you can spell an idea out by naming each step or detail. So it means 'to explain something clearly and in detail'.