spell it out
Make it clear
To spell something out is to explain it in explicit, painstaking detail, leaving nothing to inference: Do I have to spell it out for you?
The phrase often carries impatience—suggesting the listener should have understood without such thorough explanation.
Literally, to spell out is to write or say each letter of a word individually.
- explainMake something understood
- make clearRemove confusion about something
- explicateClarify through detailed analysis
- elucidateTo make understood
- illustrateExplain through depiction
clarify · put simply · decode · connect the dots · demystify · demonstrate · interpret · enunciate · specify · dissect · break down · break it down · lay it on the line · simplify · dumb it down · untangle · walk through · detail
- explanationswhy, how come, explication, what happened, definition
- clarification requestswhat do you mean, pardon, excuse me, say again, come again
- detailsdetail, particular, specific, fact, point
spell it outhint
Indirect suggestion
imply · suggest · insinuate · beat around the bush · allude to
spell it outskim over
gloss over · brush past · summarize · abbreviate · condense
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