And there it was.
A nationally recognized journalist was using an eggcorn, on live TV: “Let’s flush out the picture.”
What they meant was: “Let’s flesh out the picture.”
The difference between “flush” and “flesh” is a classic eggcorn.
The difference between “flush” and “flesh” is a classic eggcorn.
Flesh out: Add detail, provide additional description or depth. Create something more thorough and complete.
Flush out: Get rid of, clear out, wash away. Simplify the scope and eliminate distractions.
An eggcorn, as you recall, occurs when an incorrect word or phrase is substituted for another. While sometimes amusing, eggcorns differ from puns because the substitution is accidental and any humor or miscommunication is unintentional.
Pay attention when you see or hear the phrase “flush out.” Ninety percent of the time, the writer/speaker actually means “flesh out.”
Yes, one small letter makes a big difference.
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