To resolve problems, clarify unclear points, or work through the specific particulars of a plan or agreement.
This phrase draws from the domestic task of ironing clothes to remove wrinkles, first used metaphorically in the early 20th century. The image of smoothing out wrinkles perfectly captured the process of eliminating problems or complications in plans.
There's something deeply satisfying about this metaphor because everyone understands the transformation from wrinkled to smooth. It suggests that problems are just temporary imperfections that can be systematically worked out with patience and the right tools - much like actual ironing.
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