“Flush out a concept” or “flesh out a concept”: which is correct?
flesh out a concept
The short answer
The correct phrase is flesh out, which means to add detail, substance, or depth to an idea or concept, as if adding flesh to bones to make it complete.
Why people get it wrong
Flush out and flesh out sound similar, so people mix them up. Flush out is a real phrase, but it means to force someone or something out of hiding (The police flushed the suspects out of the building). To develop an idea in more detail, you need flesh out.
What kind of mistake it is
It is a malapropism, which is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous utterance.
Examples with flesh out a concept
- Let’s flesh out the concept more before presenting it.
- We need to flesh out the storyline for the new script.
- She helped flesh out my initial idea with more examples and depth.
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