phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

iron out

to resolve small problems

What it means

To resolve small problems, misunderstandings, or remaining details so that something runs smoothly. It is separable and slightly informal, often used about plans, contracts, or relationships.

Examples

  • We still need to iron out a few details before signing the contract.
  • The team met to iron out their disagreements about the new project.
  • He's good at ironing out problems between staff members.
  • Once we iron out these final issues, the app will be ready to launch.

Where it comes from

A vivid metaphor from clothes ironing — smoothing wrinkles out of fabric — applied to smoothing out difficulties since the early 1900s. It remains a friendly, practical phrase common in business meetings.

Related phrasal verbs

#sort out#work out#figure out#deal with

🧩 Think you know your phrasal verbs?

Take the Phrasal Verbs Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.