in rough

in rough

In a preliminary, unfinished, or unpolished form. The legislation was rushed through parliament, despite the fact that it was clearly still in rough.See also: rough

in ˈrough

(especially British English) if you write or draw something in rough, you make a first version of it, not worrying too much about mistakes or details: I’ve already written the essay in rough, but I need to write it out again this evening.See also: rough