If he calls, tell him I'm flat-out out.
Is the sentence above natural?
" If you're out of the house, you're out - there's no need to emphasize it by adding an intensifying adverb. The adverb "flat-out" is used in terms like: flat-out broke, flat-out out of it, flat out pooped, etc. "
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I'm a native English speaker in the US, and I've never hear the term "flat-out out." If you're out of the house, you're out - there's no need to emphasize it by adding an intensifying adverb. The adverb "flat-out" is used in terms like: flat-out broke, flat-out out of it, flat out pooped, etc. The given sentence should be:
"If he calls, (tell him) I'm out."