spell it out

present singular third person spells it out · participle present spelling it out · participle past spelled it out · past spelled it out · UK participle past spelt it out · UK past spelt it out

1. intransitiveTo provide a simple and understandable explanation.

   I'm sorry but I can't spell it out for you, because the whole issue is not that simple.

   Synonyms: explain, explicate

2. intransitiveTo be explicit, to provide even the obvious details.

   This marriage is over, do I have to spell it out?

   2 more examples

   Let me spell it out for you: you are not welcome here.

   The reading public may have difficulty getting past Jones's editorializing. As an example, at one point in the book, Jones declared that […] If the reader has been following Jones's book at all, s/he should be able to pick up that point without having Jones spell it out so blatantly.

   1980 December 13, Pat M. Kuras, “Giving The Reasons Why Some Women Kill”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 21, page 15

   Synonyms: rub it in