flesh out (something)

to explain something more completely.

She sketches a character's outline in just a few words and then vividly fleshes out her portrait as the book goes along.

Etymology: based on the idea of adding flesh to a picture that shows only the bones of a creature

• the ins and outs
• the ins and outs of
• the ins and outs of something
• the Ivy League
• the jewel in the crown
• the joker in the pack
• the joke's on
• the joke's on someone
• the jury is out
• the jury is still out
• the kiss of death
• the knives are out
• the land of milk and honey
• the last gasp of
• the last gasp of something
• the last minute
• the last of the big spenders
• the last straw
• the last word in
• the last word in something
• the law of averages
• the law of the jungle
• the lay of the land
• the least can do
• the least you can do