hammering out
Working through details
Hammering out means working through difficulties to reach an agreement or finished product, with connotations of sustained effort and negotiation: The two sides spent weeks hammering out the details of the contract.
The image is of metal being shaped by repeated blows—persistent work that gradually produces the desired form.
- discussingTalking through a topic
- hashing outDiscussing until resolved
- settleReach final terms
- negotiatingDiscussing to reach agreement
- working outPhysical fitness activity
finalizing · nailing down · forging · resolving · toiling · drafting · compromise · mediation · conciliation · coming to terms · formulating · molding · chiseling · agreeing · arbitration · work out · sculpting · bargaining
hammering outrubber-stamping
Approving without genuine examination
deadlocking · falling into place · stalling · hitting a wall
hammering outtearing up
Eyes filling with moisture
abandoning · scrapping · walking away from · dissolving · dismantling
hammering outglossing over
Superficially covering faults
winging it · avoiding · dodging · sidestepping · neglecting