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Out and out

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Out and out|Idiomatic Phrase|Complete, total, or thorough; emphasizes the absolute nature of a quality, status, or condition without qualification or exception.

Detailed Definition
Out and out means complete, absolute, unmistakable, or thoroughgoing. In poetry, it can intensify judgement: an out and out villain, lie, triumph, failure, miracle, or act of courage. Its repetition gives the phrase emphatic finality, making it useful in dramatic or colloquial speech. A poet may use it sincerely to remove ambiguity, or ironically when the speaker’s certainty is too simple. It is useful for studying how idioms can strengthen assertion while also revealing a speaker’s need for clear categories.
Example
Example in poetry:
A moral poem might call the villain an out and out liar, not merely mistaken but false to the bone; In satire, an out and out fool may rule the town because fools flatter him; The phrase out and out means complete or absolute; A poet can use it for strong judgement and emphatic characterisation.
Additional Notes
Out and out means complete, thorough, or unmistakable, often intensifying a judgement such as out and out liar or out and out disaster. In poetry, it can give a speaker blunt certainty and moral force. The repetition creates emphasis without refinement, so it suits satire, accusation, and dramatic monologue. Students should consider tone: the phrase may reveal righteous clarity, but it may also expose a speaker who refuses nuance.
Also Known As
complete
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