Phrase guide

flat out

adj · adv · noun · verb · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌflæt ˈaʊt/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈflæt ˌaʊt/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see flat, out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Complete, total, downright.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Very busy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Lazy, sleeping.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, not-comparable

Examples

  • flat out (like a lizard in the sun) - doing absolutely nothing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

At top speed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • After 10 minutes of running flat out, he was out of breath.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adv

Meaning 6

Without hesitation or reservation, bluntly, no holds barred, totally, outright.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • She thought it was best to tell him she didn't love him flat out.
  • He was flat out furious when his car was stolen.
  • 2006, Tony Rossi, Critique by guest commentator: Dr. Tony Rossi, Stephen Hagan, Australia's Blackest Sporting Moments: The Top 100, page 129, The media (in all its forms) has been known to stoop to even lower levels by flat out abusing non-whites such as the Bulletin's little description of Patrick Bowman reported above and then the Referee's self-congratulatory note that Evans (the Balmain nigger ped) had found gainful employment (at which he was 'very handy' rather than competent or skilled) and had ceased to waste everybody's time with his running.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A total failure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A baked portion of flatbread; a baked item that is not meant to rise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A wrap, an item of food consisting of various ingredients wrapped in a tortilla or pancake.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: food, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

A section of piste that is relatively flat, causing or allowing skiers to slow down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, skiing, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

An uncambered corner of racetrack; a racetrack whose corners are uncambered.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, horse-racing, horseracing, horses, lifestyle, motor-racing, pets, racing, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To fail after a promising beginning; to disappoint expectations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • 1894, Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad, 2015, Tom Sawyer Collection: All Four Books, Enhanced Media, page 413, I see myself there warn't no sense in the tale, to chop square off that way before it come to anything, but I warn't going to say so, because I could see Tom was souring up pretty fast over the way it flatted out [...] .

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

Synonym of flatten out (to make flat)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flatten out

Antonyms: none provided

14

adverb

Meaning 14

at top speed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he ran flat out to catch the bus
  • he was off down the road like blue murder

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: like blue murder

Antonyms: none provided

15

adverb

Meaning 15

in a blunt direct manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he spoke bluntly
  • he stated his opinion flat-out
  • he was criticized roundly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bluffly, bluntly, brusquely, roundly

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.