Phrasal Verb - Roughing Out
· 2 min read
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.Definition
To 'rough out' something means to create a preliminary, basic, or unrefined version of it, focusing on its main features, structure, or general idea rather than intricate details or final polish. It involves sketching, outlining, or modeling the core elements to establish the overall form, scope, or direction before committing to more precise or elaborate work. This initial stage is crucial for visualizing the concept, identifying potential issues, and providing a framework for subsequent development. It implies a quick, often iterative process aimed at capturing the essence without getting bogged down in specifics, serving as a foundation upon which further refinement and detail can be built.
Examples
| No. | Example |
|---|---|
| 1 | Before painting the landscape, the artist decided to rough out the main shapes of the mountains and trees. |
| 2 | Can you rough out a basic agenda for tomorrow's meeting so we have a starting point? |
| 3 | The architect spent the afternoon roughing out several potential floor plans for the new building. |
| 4 | We need to rough out a budget estimate by Friday, even if it's not perfectly accurate yet. |
| 5 | During the brainstorming session, they tried to rough out some ideas for the new marketing campaign. |
| 6 | He quickly roughed out the melody on his guitar before forgetting it. |
| 7 | Let's rough out the first chapter of the novel just to get the plot moving. |
| 8 | The sculptor began by roughing out the human form from the block of marble. |
| 9 | She asked her assistant to rough out a presentation outline for her to review. |
| 10 | We just need to rough out the basic functionality of the app for the demo, not build the whole thing. |