flat out
flat out — adverb
1. as fast or as hard as you possibly can, leaving nothing held back
as fast or as hard as you possibly can, leaving nothing held back
Aarav drove flat out along the empty highway to reach the hospital.
verb + flat out for top speed
The nurses worked flat out all night to care for the flood victims.
work flat out = at full effort
During the harvest, the whole farm runs flat out from dawn until dusk.
Sari pedalled flat out, yet the bus still pulled away before she arrived.
The little factory has been going flat out to fill the holiday orders.
- at full speed
more neutral; only about velocity, not effort
- as hard as possible
stresses effort rather than pure speed
- at a leisurely pace
slow and relaxed, the opposite of full effort
文法句型
work/run/drive + flat out
用法筆記
Comes after the verb it describes (run, work, drive, go); never placed before it. Distinguish from sense 2, which introduces a blunt statement rather than describing speed or effort.
常見錯誤
2. in a plain, direct way, without softening the message to sound polite
in a plain, direct way, without softening the message to sound polite
Christopher flat out refused to apologise, even after his coach asked twice.
flat out + refuse for a blunt refusal
When Sivan asked for a raise, the manager flat out said no.
The witness flat out denied ever meeting the driver on that night.
Obi told his sister flat out that her plan would never work.
The doctor told Yan flat out that smoking was damaging her lungs.
- bluntly
single-word equivalent; slightly more formal
- point-blank
very direct, often about refusing or asking
- tactfully
carefully, to avoid hurting feelings
文法句型
flat out + refuse/deny/tell
用法筆記
Usually sits before verbs of refusing, denying, or telling (refuse, deny, tell, say no). Unlike sense 1, it describes how something is said, not how fast or hard an action is done.
常見錯誤
3. used before a word to stress that something is completely true, with no doubt at
used before a word to stress that something is completely true, with no doubt at all
Beatrix said the rumour was flat out wrong and asked people to stop sharing it.
flat out + adjective for emphasis
Charging that much for water is flat out unfair to the campers.
Hamza called the excuse flat out ridiculous and walked out of the meeting.
The judge said the second story was a flat out lie from start to finish.
- completely
neutral intensifier, fits any register
- downright
informal; usually before a negative quality
文法句型
flat out + adjective
用法筆記
Mainly American and informal; strengthens an adjective or noun the way 'completely' or 'utterly' would. Distinguish from sense 2: here it intensifies a description, not the manner of speaking.
flat out — adjective
1. working or running as fast and as hard as it can, with no spare capacity left
working or running as fast and as hard as it can, with no spare capacity left
The bakery is flat out every morning, with all six ovens fully loaded.
be flat out = running at full capacity
Renata has been flat out at work since the new branch opened in March.
be flat out = extremely busy
The repair team was flat out for a week after the storm hit the coast.
Our kitchen is flat out at lunchtime, so please book a table in advance.
- at full stretch
stresses using every bit of capacity
- extremely busy
plainer wording for the 'no spare time' reading
- idle
not working or being used at all
文法句型
be flat out
用法筆記
Used after 'be' or a similar linking verb to say a person, team, or machine is at full stretch. Often describes being extremely busy rather than physically moving fast.
常見錯誤
2. complete and plain, used before a noun to give it more force
complete and plain, used before a noun to give it more force
Piotr made a flat out promise to repay every cent by summer.
flat out + noun for emphasis
Reema dismissed the report as flat out nonsense and tossed it aside.
a flat out + noun = total, plain
Anjali gave a flat out refusal and would not discuss the offer further.
The coach called the loss a flat out disaster for the young team.
文法句型
a flat out + noun
用法筆記
Sits directly before a noun and strengthens it, like 'complete' or 'utter'. Distinguish from sense 1, which follows 'be' and describes being at full capacity rather than emphasising a noun.