Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to hammer out

to hammer out

23 4.2
To talk about something in detail until people reach an agreement
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈhæmər aʊt/
translation icon : llegar a un acuerdo
  • I think until Israelis and Palestinians can truly hammer out a strong compromise, nothing much will change.
  • hammer out an agreement
  • hammered out a compromise
  • hammered out the details

It is not happening because we ended up getting on the phone hammering things out without lawyers and we are at peace with it.

Examples

  • I'm meeting with them this afternoon to hammer out the deal points with the seller.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Bert and I hammered out 90 percent of the details, and there’s a couple minor things hanging, but it should be easy.

    Marriage Story (2019)

  • Listen, tomorrow night, soon as I get back into town... we sit down, dinner, we hammer out a deal.

    Shattered (1991)

  • So tomorrow, we'll break into our smaller groups and begin hammering out the different resolution points.

    The Best of Enemies (2019)

  • Officials from this week's delegation have remained in Egypt to hammer out the details of the American.

    Blog text (12)

  • Don't worry, we can hammer out a payment plan.

    Angel Wars: About Face (2004)

  • Okay, why don't you guys make small talk, and Grace and I will pop into the other room and hammer out some details.

    Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)

  • We need a president strong enough to hammer out a deal on these largely self-inflicted political-fiscal crises.

    Blog text (26)

  • Compromises were hammered out at Novo-Ogaryevo, Gorbachev's presidential dacha near Moscow, in closed sessions with republican leaders.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The team met for several hours to hammer out an agreement on the project's direction.

Synonyms

to negotiate
vsto hammer out
  • Formal
801 3.7

Try to reach an agreement by talking, often about business terms

is more forceful and less formal, aiming to push for decision
to clinch
vsto hammer out
38 5.1

To finally get something after a long effort

is about an active forceful discussion that produces the decisive outcome
to reach an agreement
vsto hammer out
35 3.0

Decide together after talking about the terms

is about vigorous, forceful discussion rather than just the outcome
to nail down
vsto hammer out
20 4.6

Decide the exact details of a plan or agreement

is a forceful, thorough discussion rather than only finalizing details
to hash out
vsto hammer out
  • Informal
20 4.6

Talk about details carefully to reach an agreement

is more forceful and pushes for a firm decision
to strike a deal
vsto hammer out
20 3.4

To agree with someone after talking about the details

is the process of forceful discussion aimed at reaching agreement
to thrash out
vsto hammer out
  • Informal
2 5.3

To discuss a problem carefully to reach a solution or agreement

is more forceful and aimed at producing a clear decision
to thrash out a compromise
vsto hammer out
5.7

Talk about things fully to reach an agreement when people disagree

is more forceful and thorough to secure a decision
to hash out a deal
vsto hammer out
  • Informal
4.9

To discuss the details of an agreement until both sides agree

is more forceful and focuses on securing a firm agreement

Antonyms

to avoid
∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

How Thorough

to hammer out
23 4.2
to negotiate
  • Formal
801 3.7
to work out
950 2.8
to discuss
∞ 1.6
to bring up
788 2.6

Surface Forms

hammer out infinitive
hammered out past
hammered out past participle
hammering out present participle
hammers out third person singular

Morphology

hammer + out

The verb 'hammer' (to beat or pound) can be metaphorically extended to mean working hard to shape or finalize something, and the particle 'out' adds a sense of bringing something to completion. Because the negotiation/decision sense is a metaphorical extension of the physical action rather than a literal composition, a B1 learner who knows the parts can get a general idea but would likely need exposure to grasp the specific meaning fully.

Etymology

The verb hammer out comes from the image of a metalworker using a hammer to beat a piece of metal out on an anvil until it has the right shape. So, to hammer out a deal means people work hard, hitting the details until they reach 'an agreement'.