Rough and ready

Rough and ready
Rough Rough, a. [Compar. {Rougher}; superl. {Roughest}.] [OE. rou?, rou, row, rugh, ruh, AS. r?h; akin to LG. rug, D. rug, D. ruig, ruw, OHG. r?h, G. rauh, rauch; cf. Lith. raukas wrinkle, rukti to wrinkle. [root] 18. Cf. {Rug}, n.] 1. Having inequalities, small ridges, or points, on the surface; not smooth or plain; as, a rough board; a rough stone; rough cloth. Specifically: (a) Not level; having a broken surface; uneven; -- said of a piece of land, or of a road. ``Rough, uneven ways.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster] (b) Not polished; uncut; -- said of a gem; as, a rough diamond. (c) Tossed in waves; boisterous; high; -- said of a sea or other piece of water. [1913 Webster]

More unequal than the roughest sea. --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster] (d) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; -- said of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough coat. ``A visage rough.'' --Dryden. ``Roughsatyrs.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or polish. Specifically: (a) Not courteous or kind; harsh; rude; uncivil; as, a rough temper. [1913 Webster]

A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds. --Prior. [1913 Webster] (b) Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as, rough measures or actions. [1913 Webster]

On the rough edge of battle. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

A quicker and rougher remedy. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

Kind words prevent a good deal of that perverseness which rough and imperious usage often produces. --Locke. [1913 Webster] (c) Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, voice, and the like; as, a rough tone; rough numbers. --Pope. [1913 Webster] (d) Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine. (e) Tempestuous; boisterous; stormy; as, rough weather; a rough day. [1913 Webster]

He stayeth his rough wind. --Isa. xxvii. 8. [1913 Webster]

Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (f) Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish; incomplete; as, a rough estimate; a rough draught. [1913 Webster]

{Rough diamond}, an uncut diamond; hence, colloquially, a person of intrinsic worth under a rude exterior.

{Rough and ready}. (a) Acting with offhand promptness and efficiency. ``The rough and ready understanding.'' --Lowell. [1913 Webster] (b) Produced offhand. ``Some rough and ready theory.'' --Tylor. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Rough and Ready — may refer to:* Old Rough and Ready , a nickname for U.S. President Zachary TaylorIn places in the United States: * Rough and Ready, California, an unincorporated town in California, U.S. * Rough and Ready, Georgia, now Mountain View, Georgia *… …   Wikipedia

  • rough-and-ready — {adj.} 1. Not finished in detail; not perfected; rough but ready for use now. * /We asked Mr. Brown how long it would take to drive to Chicago and his rough and ready answer was two days./ 2. Not having nice manners but full of energy and ability …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rough-and-ready — {adj.} 1. Not finished in detail; not perfected; rough but ready for use now. * /We asked Mr. Brown how long it would take to drive to Chicago and his rough and ready answer was two days./ 2. Not having nice manners but full of energy and ability …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rough-and-ready — [ruf′ən red′ē] adj. 1. rough, or crude, rude, unpolished, etc., but effective enough [rough and ready methods] 2. characterized by rough vigor and prompt action rather than refinement, formality, or nicety [a rough and ready fellow] …   English World dictionary

  • rough-and-ready — rough and readiness, n. /ruf euhn red ee/, adj. 1. rough, rude, or crude, but good enough for the purpose: a rough and ready estimate of future expenses. 2. exhibiting or showing rough vigor rather than refinement or delicacy: a cowboy the rough… …   Universalium

  • rough and ready — If something is rough and ready, it has not been carefully prepared, but is fit for its purpose. If a person is rough and ready, they are not very refined or mannered …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • rough-and-ready — adjective 1. ) simple and prepared quickly, but effective: a rough and ready method/technique/approach 2. ) not polite or well educated …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • rough and ready — rough or crude but effective The boat is rough and ready so let s take it for a ride …   Idioms and examples

  • rough and ready — ► rough and ready 1) crude but effective. 2) unsophisticated or unrefined. Main Entry: ↑rough …   English terms dictionary

  • rough and ready — also rough and ready 1) ADJ GRADED A rough and ready solution or method is one that is rather simple and not very exact because it has been thought of or done in a hurry. Here is a rough and ready measurement. 2) ADJ GRADED A rough and ready… …   English dictionary

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