out-and-out

See also: out and out

English

Adjective

out-and-out (not comparable) (used only before a noun, attributively)

1. Complete, utter.

   He is an out-and-out idiot.

   out-and-out lie

   • 1998, Douglas Adams, speech at Cambridge, UK. [1]

     I'm sure most of the people in this room will share the same view, but even as an out-and-out atheist one can't help noticing that the role of a god has had an enormously profound impact on human history over many, many centuries.

2. (animal husbandry) thoroughly cross-bred; a breeding strategy esp. with poultry where new roosters are circulated yearly to maintain a mongrel flock.

   For my own part I would sooner eat bread-and-cheese and know myself the possessor of an out-and-out horse, than sell him for the privilege of dining with the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen every day in the year.

   • 1840, The Sporting Magazine, May 1840, Vol XXI Second Series

Synonyms

• altogether
• downright
• through and through
• See also Thesaurus:total

Translations

complete

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 完全的

• German: durch und durch (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: amach is amach
• Italian: spaccato (it)
• Spanish: a carta cabal, de aúpa, de tomo y lomo (es), puro y duro