flat-out

[ flat-out ]

/ ˈflætˈaʊt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flat-out ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Informal.

moving or working at top speed or with maximum effort; all-out: a flat-out effort by all contestants.

downright; thoroughgoing: Many of the paintings were flat-out forgeries.

Origin of flat-out

First recorded in 1925–30

Words nearby flat-out

flatline, flatling, flatly, flatmate, flat on one's back, flat-out, flat-pack, flat-panel display, flat pelvis, flat pick, flat plate

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for flat-out

The president came to believe Shamir misled him on the settlement issue, or flat-out lied to him.
The Inside Story of U.S. Meddling in Israel’s Elections|Aaron David Miller|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His post-mortem that there is no red or blue America was tired and flat-out wrong.
Earth to DNC: Dyspeptic Dad Still Votes, Too|Lloyd Green|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Old Don said flat-out that he took the girl for both him and his son.
The Ballad of Johnny France|Richard Ben Cramer|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More vexing than the short-shrift mentions are the flat-out omissions.
John Sutherland‘s Enjoyable Little History of Literature|Malcolm Forbes|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST

By the time I finished doing this it had become a flat-out race.
College Application Guru Turned Author Lacy Crawford on ‘Early Decision’|Lizzie Crocker|August 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He believed in the New Work, believed in it with every fiber of his being, but an undiverse portfolio was flat-out irresponsible.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
This caused some concern over his meager fuel supply since his plan called for some flat-out jetting later on.
Far from Home|J.A. Taylor

Idioms and Phrases with flat-out

flat out

In a direct manner, bluntly. For example, He told the true story flat out. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

At top speed, as in She was running flat out to catch the train. [Slang; c. 1930]