hammer out

1. (transitive)To flatten and shape (metal) by hammering.

   A smith hammers out iron on an anvil.

2. (transitive)To create (something) by hammering metal; to repair (something made of metal that has become bent or dented) by hammering.

   I watched a tinsmith hammer out a funnel.

   The fender was so badly damaged that it couldn’t be hammered out.

3. (transitive)To remove (something tightly in place) by hammering.

   The bolt wouldn’t budge so she tried hammering it out.

4. (transitive)To produce (a sound or signal) by hammering.

   The kids are forever hammering out “Heart and Soul” on the piano.

5. (transitive)To type (something) on a keyboard.

6. (figuratively, transitive)To create or develop (an idea, plan, piece of writing, etc.) with effort.

   It took me all night to hammer out the first draft of my essay.

7. (figuratively, transitive)To come to (a difficult agreement or settlement) after much arguing and conflict.

   Two years after the flood, my lawyer managed to hammer out a settlement with my insurance company over the damages.

1. He hammered out a home run.

   deEr hat einen Homerun geschlagen.

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2. Party leaders are hammering out a proposal for political reform.

   deDie Parteispitze arbeitet an einem politischen Reformvorschlag.

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3. We're hammering out the details.

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4. The group has been hammering out trade deals with six countries, including Japan and China, which are to be finalized this year.

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irregular

• hammer upTo harm, defeat, or beat up (someone).
• hammer outTo flatten and shape (metal) by hammering.
• hammer awayTo continue discussing or trying to solve.