map out

English

Verb

map out (third-person singular simple present maps out, present participle mapping out, simple past and past participle mapped out)

1. (transitive) To create a map of an area.
2. (transitive, by extension) To organise a plan; to analyze a situation; to figure out a problem.
3. (transitive) To make explicit; to explain in detail.
   • 1992, Roy Maynard, 38 Caliber: An Emerson Dunn Mystery, page 127:

     You two sit down, and I'll map it out for you.” For the next fifteen minutes I told them a tale of greed, racism, treachery and murder.

   • 2007, Carolyn C. Wise, Stephanie Hauser, The College Buzz Book, page 410:

     The grading is tough, just like the classes, but they map it out for you right from the beginning.

   • 2010, Patrick M. Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable:

     He went to the white board and mapped out his entire organization, explaining what everyone was working on and how it fit together.

   • 2012, Rebecca Shambaugh, Make Room for Her, page 120:

     No one can map it out for you. You're going to have to figure it out for yourself and systematically lay the groundwork for your future.

Anagrams

• Maputo