Can you help me flesh this out? *shudders*
February 7, 2018 8:50 PM Subscribe
My colleague uses the term "flesh this out" all the time at work, and it totally grosses me out. What is another saying to use?
I'm working closely with a colleague on a project that involves making up a bunch of stuff from scratch. Consequently she says the phrase "we need to flesh this out" ALL THE TIME. I told her yesterday that I hate that saying and it just gives me this gross, visceral reaction and makes me think of ground chicken and skeletons. Totally my weird personal hang-up - I know - but she asked me what she could say instead, and I kind of drew a blank.
What are there other fun phrases to use that get across the idea of needing better think out the details of an idea that aren't so weirdly gross-sounding?
I have a very, very good relationship with this person, so she will totally hear me out if I can suggest other words she can use.
I'm working closely with a colleague on a project that involves making up a bunch of stuff from scratch. Consequently she says the phrase "we need to flesh this out" ALL THE TIME. I told her yesterday that I hate that saying and it just gives me this gross, visceral reaction and makes me think of ground chicken and skeletons. Totally my weird personal hang-up - I know - but she asked me what she could say instead, and I kind of drew a blank.
What are there other fun phrases to use that get across the idea of needing better think out the details of an idea that aren't so weirdly gross-sounding?
I have a very, very good relationship with this person, so she will totally hear me out if I can suggest other words she can use.
"Let's unpack this idea."
"Let's delevop this idea."
"Let's hash this out."
"Let's work on this."
posted by Temeraria at 8:53 PM on February 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Let's delevop this idea."
"Let's hash this out."
"Let's work on this."
posted by Temeraria at 8:53 PM on February 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
"We need to add to this." "Can you help me with this?"
posted by rhizome at 8:56 PM on February 7, 2018
posted by rhizome at 8:56 PM on February 7, 2018
"Let's brainstorm this idea."
"Let's figure out a plan to implement this idea."
"Do you have time to noodle around on this idea?"
posted by carmicha at 8:58 PM on February 7, 2018
"Let's figure out a plan to implement this idea."
"Do you have time to noodle around on this idea?"
posted by carmicha at 8:58 PM on February 7, 2018
"We need to flesh this out" = "We need to expand on this"
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:12 PM on February 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:12 PM on February 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
I used to mistakenly say "flush this out," imagine my surprise when I learned the real phrase!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:21 PM on February 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:21 PM on February 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
put some color on this
expand this
get some detail on this
think how we're going to implement this
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:24 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
expand this
get some detail on this
think how we're going to implement this
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:24 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Build on this.
posted by Autumnheart at 9:44 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 9:44 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
You know, if she can't pick an alternative then she doesn't really understand why she is saying what she is saying. It might be more of a verbal tic than substantive communication. Ask her what she really means, what she really wants to communicate by saying it. You probably couldn't come up with an alternative because she is not actually communicating anything meaningful.
posted by Thella at 9:58 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Thella at 9:58 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Fill in the details.
posted by leahwrenn at 9:58 PM on February 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by leahwrenn at 9:58 PM on February 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
Let's elaborate on this.
Let's sketch this out a little more.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:50 AM on February 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Let's sketch this out a little more.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:50 AM on February 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Let's fill in the details and make this more substantial and thorough. I can't think of another short phrase that captures the whole thing. Make one up--bulk it up or something.
posted by gideonfrog at 5:15 AM on February 8, 2018
posted by gideonfrog at 5:15 AM on February 8, 2018
I like "Let's develop this" and "Let's build this out." You could also try "Let's cultivate this."
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 7:10 AM on February 8, 2018
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 7:10 AM on February 8, 2018
Augment
Supplement
Broaden
Deepen
Widen
Heighten
Lengthen
Build up
Jack up
Amp up
Soup up
Beef up (maybe not any better?)
Enrich
Extend
Enlarge
Enhance
Embellish
Elucidate
Expatiate
Expound upon
And last but not least,
Aggrandize ;)
posted by protorp at 12:51 PM on February 8, 2018
Supplement
Broaden
Deepen
Widen
Heighten
Lengthen
Build up
Jack up
Amp up
Soup up
Beef up (maybe not any better?)
Enrich
Extend
Enlarge
Enhance
Embellish
Elucidate
Expatiate
Expound upon
And last but not least,
Aggrandize ;)
posted by protorp at 12:51 PM on February 8, 2018
involves making up a bunch of stuff from scratch
When I had a job like this, we'd say okay, let's break out the hipboots and start shoveling.
But if this is what you do on the regular, and she's saying it all the time... does anything need to be said, at all? Can you go back and say something like, "Thanks, it's going to so helpful that you don't say that phrase! I realized you don't have to say anything in its place."
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:10 PM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
When I had a job like this, we'd say okay, let's break out the hipboots and start shoveling.
But if this is what you do on the regular, and she's saying it all the time... does anything need to be said, at all? Can you go back and say something like, "Thanks, it's going to so helpful that you don't say that phrase! I realized you don't have to say anything in its place."
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:10 PM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Lets hang some muscle, gristle, and skin on this skeleton."
posted by porpoise at 1:32 PM on February 8, 2018
posted by porpoise at 1:32 PM on February 8, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
get detailed here
expand on this
amplify
work out specifics
posted by bluecore at 8:53 PM on February 7, 2018 [4 favorites]