flat out
flat out — 副詞
1. as fast or as hard as you possibly can, leaving nothing held back
全速；拼命
用盡全力、以最快速度做某事
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.
Aarav 沿著空曠的高速公路全速開車，趕往醫院。
verb + flat out for top speed
The nurses worked flat out all night to care for the flood victims.
護士們整夜拼命工作，照顧水災的災民。
work flat out = at full effort
During the harvest, the whole farm runs flat out from dawn until dusk.
收成期間，整座農場從天亮到天黑全力運轉。
Sari pedalled flat out, yet the bus still pulled away before she arrived.
Sari 拼命踩著腳踏車，公車卻還是在她到達前開走了。
The little factory has been going flat out to fill the holiday orders.
這家小工廠一直全力趕工，以應付假期的訂單。
- 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
直截了當地
直接、不加修飾地說出來
in a plain, direct way, without softening the message to sound polite
Christopher flat out refused to apologise, even after his coach asked twice.
Christopher 斷然拒絕道歉，即使教練問了他兩次。
flat out + refuse for a blunt refusal
When Sivan asked for a raise, the manager flat out said no.
Sivan 要求加薪時，經理直接說不行。
The witness flat out denied ever meeting the driver on that night.
證人一口咬定那天晚上從未見過那名駕駛。
Obi told his sister flat out that her plan would never work.
Obi 直截了當地告訴妹妹，她的計畫絕對行不通。
The doctor told Yan flat out that smoking was damaging her lungs.
醫師直接告訴 Yan，抽菸正在傷害她的肺。
- 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
完全地；根本
用來強調某事完全屬實、毫無疑問
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.
Beatrix 說那則謠言完全是錯的，並請大家別再轉發。
flat out + adjective for emphasis
Charging that much for water is flat out unfair to the campers.
水賣那麼貴，對露營的人根本就不公平。
Hamza called the excuse flat out ridiculous and walked out of the meeting.
Hamza 說那個藉口根本荒謬，然後走出了會議室。
The judge said the second story was a flat out lie from start to finish.
法官說第二個說法從頭到尾完全是謊言。
- 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 — 形容詞
1. working or running as fast and as hard as it can, with no spare capacity left
全力運轉的
以最大產能運作、忙到沒有餘力
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.
這家麵包店每天早上都全力運轉，六座烤箱全都裝滿。
be flat out = running at full capacity
Renata has been flat out at work since the new branch opened in March.
自從三月新分店開幕，Renata 在工作上一直忙得不可開交。
be flat out = extremely busy
The repair team was flat out for a week after the storm hit the coast.
風暴襲擊海岸後，維修隊忙到全力運轉了一整週。
Our kitchen is flat out at lunchtime, so please book a table in advance.
我們的廚房午餐時間總是忙翻天，請提前訂位。
- 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
徹底；十足
放在名詞前，強調完全、不折不扣
complete and plain, used before a noun to give it more force
Piotr made a flat out promise to repay every cent by summer.
Piotr 做出明確承諾，會在夏天前還清每一分錢。
flat out + noun for emphasis
Reema dismissed the report as flat out nonsense and tossed it aside.
Reema 把那份報告斥為十足的胡說，隨手丟到一旁。
a flat out + noun = total, plain
Anjali gave a flat out refusal and would not discuss the offer further.
Anjali 斷然拒絕，不願再討論這項提議。
The coach called the loss a flat out disaster for the young team.
教練稱這場敗仗是這支年輕球隊的徹底災難。
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.