Learn English – Meaning of “run flat out”

expressionsmeaningphrases

What does "I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking" mean?

It was said in The Bourne Identity.

I am not a native English speaker. I know the meaning of the individual words, but have never heard the expression "run flat out" before.

Best Answer

Flat out is an expression used to describe one of three things, depending on the context:

  1. Doing something as hard or as quickly as you can: e.g. I worked flat out to finish the assignment.
  2. Doing something without hesitating or any second thought: I flat-out disagree with your view.
  3. Lying down completely stretched out: After winning the race, I was exhausted and collapsed flat-out on the ground.

In this case, it's the second or the first use, depending on the context, though in either case he's making a statement about his physical condition. The speaker is saying one of two things:

  1. He can run as quickly as he can for half a mile before his hands start shaking
  2. The speaker can, without a moment's hesitation, run half a mile, without a warm-up, before his hands start shaking.
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