Flushed Out

Posted by Bookworm June 04, 2003In reply to Flushed Out posted by TheFallen on June 04, 2003

Need help again.

We should wait until this thing is more
fully flushed out. Then, we will see what
we should do next.

what does "more fully flushed out" mean here?

Thanks!

Could it be "fleshed out"?

I don't think so. The following from the American Heritage Dictionary:

*** Start Snip ***

FLUSH

TRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To frighten (a game bird, for example) from cover.
2. To drive or force into the open: The police fired tear gas to flush out the terrorists.

INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To dart out or fly from cover.

NOUN:
1. A bird or flock of birds that has been frightened from cover.

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English flusshen.

*** End Snip ***

To flush something out is to expose it, or to reveal its true nature and/or purpose.

Perhaps an argument may be made for "fleshed out" as well:

Main Entry: flesh out
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1886

to make fuller or more nearly complete

- fleshed-out adjective

The speaker could be advising to wait for a situation to unfold a little further (i.e. near completion) before acting.