flatout
gb/flˈætˌaʊt/ us/flˈætˌaʊt/
B1
English
teljesen, egyszerűen, határozottan, teljes erőből, padlógázzal, teljes gőzzel, egyenesen, kerek perec, kertelés nélkül, el van havazva, leterhelt, nagyon elfoglalt, teljes, kategorikus, szemenszedett, elnyúlva, kinyújtózva, végignyúlva
B1
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
flatout + [adjective] / flatout + [verb]
That claim is flatout wrong.
Az állítás teljesen téves.
They flatout refused to apologize.
Egyszerűen nem voltak hajlandók bocsánatot kérni.
It’s flatout impossible to finish by noon.
Learner examples
You are flatout wrong.
Teljesen tévedsz.
She flatout refused.
Egyszerűen nemet mondott.
Common mistake:
Often written as two words (flat out) or with a hyphen (flat-out), especially before a noun.
Meaning
completely; absolutely
Collocations
flatout wrong
|flatout impossible
|flatout refused
|flatout denied
|flatout rejected
|flatout ridiculous
|flatout false
|flatout untrue
Synonyms
completely (more neutral; less forceful.)
|
absolutely (common emphasis; slightly more general.)
|
outright (often implies bluntness or lack of qualification.)
Antonyms
partly (not total or complete.)
|
somewhat (only to a limited degree.)
Themes
daily_life
|opinions
|emphasis
Definition
used to mean “completely” or “absolutely.”
Used to emphasize that something is total or true in the strongest possible way; completely or absolutely.
B2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[drive/run/go/push] flatout
The car was going flatout down the highway.
Az autó padlógázzal száguldott az autópályán.
She ran flatout for the finish line.
Teljes erőből futott a célvonal felé.
We pushed flatout to meet the deadline.
Learner examples
He drove flatout.
Padlógázzal vezetett.
They worked flatout to finish.
Teljes gőzzel dolgoztak, hogy végezzenek.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with the ‘completely’ meaning; context usually involves speed, effort, or competition.
Meaning
at maximum speed or effort
Collocations
go flatout
|drive flatout
|run flatout
|push flatout
|race flatout
|flatout sprint
Synonyms
all-out (focuses on maximum effort; less about speed specifically.)
|
at full speed (more literal and neutral.)
|
full tilt (more idiomatic; similar intensity.)
Antonyms
slowly (not at high speed or intensity.)
|
carefully (emphasizes caution rather than speed/effort.)
Themes
sports
|transport
|work
Definition
as fast or as hard as you can.
As fast or as hard as possible; at full speed or with maximum effort.
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
tell/say [something] flatout
I asked him flatout if he was leaving.
Egyenesen megkérdeztem tőle, hogy elmegy-e.
She told me flatout that the deal was off.
Kerek perec megmondta nekem, hogy az üzlet ugrott.
He denied it flatout, without any explanation.
Learner examples
I told her flatout the truth.
Kerek perec megmondtam neki az igazat.
Common mistake:
This sense is about speaking style (directness), not speed or being ‘completely’ wrong.
Meaning
directly and without hiding
Collocations
say flatout
|tell someone flatout
|ask flatout
|state flatout
|admit flatout
Synonyms
bluntly (emphasizes a lack of tact.)
|
directly (more neutral; less strong.)
|
straight (informal; often in 'tell it straight'.)
Antonyms
indirectly (not said in a direct way.)
|
evasively (intentionally avoiding a clear answer.)
Themes
communication
|relationships
Definition
in a very direct way.
In a very direct and blunt way, without evasion or softening.
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
be flatout (with [work])
I’ve been flatout all week and haven’t had a moment to call.
Egész héten el vagyok havazva, és egy percem sem volt, hogy telefonáljak.
We’re flatout with orders right now.
Most el vagyunk havazva a rendelésekkel.
She’s flatout preparing for the conference.
Learner examples
I am flatout today.
Ma el vagyok havazva.
Common mistake:
Common in UK/Australia/NZ English; in US English, people may prefer 'swamped' or 'really busy'.
Meaning
extremely busy; working very hard
Collocations
been flatout
|flatout all day
|flatout all week
|flatout at work
|flatout with deadlines
Synonyms
swamped (informal; strongly suggests too much work.)
|
snowed under (BrE; similar meaning, more idiomatic.)
|
busy (more general; less intense.)
Antonyms
idle (not busy; not working.)
|
free (available and not occupied.)
Themes
work
|daily_life
Definition
very busy; working all the time.
Very busy and working continuously; with little or no free time. (Often written as two words: flat out.)
B2
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
a flatout [noun]
It was a flatout lie.
Szemenszedett hazugság volt.
They issued a flatout denial of the allegations.
Közleményt adtak ki, amelyben kategorikusan tagadták a vádakat.
The policy amounts to a flatout ban on street vending.
Learner examples
That is a flatout lie.
Ez szemenszedett hazugság.
Common mistake:
Learners often omit the hyphen in writing before a noun; many style guides prefer 'flat-out' there.
Meaning
complete; total (before a noun)
Collocations
a flatout lie
|a flatout denial
|a flatout ban
|a flatout refusal
|a flatout rejection
Synonyms
outright (common in formal-ish writing too.)
|
total (more neutral; less punchy.)
|
absolute (often slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
qualified (not complete; limited by conditions.)
|
partial (not total.)
Themes
opinions
|emphasis
Definition
a strong way to say “complete” before a noun.
Complete and total, used before a noun for emphasis (often written with a hyphen: flat-out).
C1
6
Usage pattern:
lie flatout on [surface]
After the flight, he was flatout on the hotel bed within minutes.
A repülőút után pár percen belül már elnyúlva feküdt a szállodai ágyon.
The dog lay flatout in the shade to cool down.
A kutya elnyúlva hevert az árnyékban, hogy lehűljön.
Learner examples
I lay flatout on the bed.
Elnyúlva feküdtem az ágyon.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with the ‘very busy’ or ‘completely’ meanings; this sense is physical and literal.
Meaning
lying fully stretched out
Collocations
lying flatout
|flatout on the bed
|flatout on the floor
|stretched flatout
Synonyms
stretched out (more common and descriptive.)
|
prone (more formal; usually face down.)
Antonyms
upright (sitting or standing, not lying down.)
|
standing (vertical posture.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
Definition
lying down with your body straight.
Lying down with the body fully extended. (More commonly written as two words: flat out.)
Grammar
Dictionary form
flatout
IPA
GB/flˈætˌaʊt/
US/flˈætˌaʊt/
Syllables & stress
flatout (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (flatout)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: flatout
- Comparative: flatouter
- Superlative: flatoutest
Word family
Forms
flatouter
adjective
flatoutest
adjective
Core family
Expressions
a flatout lie
1/ə flˈætˌaʊt lˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
informal
complete lie
a total lie.
Examples
- What he said about her was a flatout lie.
- The report was dismissed as a flatout lie.
Learner examples
- That is a flatout lie.
flatout deny [something]
1/flˈætˌaʊt dɪnˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
deny completely
to say strongly that something is not true.
Examples
- He flatout denied the accusation.
- They flatout deny any responsibility for the leak.
Learner examples
- He flatout denied it.
flatout refuse (to ...)
1/flˈætˌaʊt ɹˈɛfjˌuz tə |/
fixed phrase
informal
refuse completely
to say “no” in a strong way.
Examples
- He flatout refused to pay.
- The company flatout refused to comment.
Learner examples
- She flatout refused to help.
flatout wrong
1/flˈætˌaʊt ɹˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
completely wrong
totally wrong.
Examples
- If you think it’s easy, you’re flatout wrong.
- That interpretation is flatout wrong.
Learner examples
- This answer is flatout wrong.
go flatout
1/ɡˈoʊ flˈætˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
informal
move as fast as possible
to go very fast or try as hard as possible.
Examples
- We went flatout for the last two minutes of the game.
- The riders went flatout up the final climb.
Learner examples
- They went flatout to win.
tell [someone] flatout (that ...)
1/tˈɛl sˈʌmwˌʌn flˈætˌaʊt ðˈæt |/
fixed phrase
informal
tell someone directly
to say something clearly and directly.
Examples
- I told him flatout that I wasn’t interested.
- She told me flatout to stop calling her.
Learner examples
- He told me flatout to leave.
work flatout
1/wˈɚk flˈætˌaʊt/
fixed phrase
informal
work extremely hard
to work very hard, with no breaks.
Examples
- They worked flatout to get the site back online.
- I’ve been working flatout since Monday.
Learner examples
- We worked flatout today.