spell things out

spell things out (third-person singular simple present spells things out, present participle spelling things out, simple past and past participle spelled things out or (mostly UK) spelt things out)

1. (intransitive) To provide simple and understandable details.

   Here is an article that spells things out, so that it is easier to grasp.

2. (intransitive) To be explicit.

   It used to be that songs could not spell things out, but society is more liberal now.

• spell it out