English idiom

iron out the kinks

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to fix the last small problems in a plan, process, or product

Why this phrase?

From ironing wrinkles out of cloth.

Example

“We're ironing out the kinks in the checkout flow before the public launch.”

Dictionary details

Alternate forms

work out the kinks

Component words

iron

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

strike while the iron is hot

to act quickly while the opportunity exists

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

for the time being

temporarily, until circumstances change

back to square one

to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed

back to the drawing board

to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed

band-aid fix

a hasty, temporary solution that patches a symptom without addressing the root cause

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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