rough-and-ready

[ ruhf-uhn-red-ee ]

adjective

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-and-ready type.

rough-and-ready

adjective

1. crude, unpolished, or hastily prepared, but sufficient for the purpose
2. (of a person) without formality or refinement; rudely vigorous

Derived Forms

• ˈrough-and-ˈreadiness, noun

Other Words From

• rough-and-readi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rough-and-ready¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Idioms and Phrases

Unrefined or makeshift but available for use or action, as in The agenda is somewhat rough and ready, but it covers the main issues . [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

Then came the rough-and-ready sentence of the camp-followers.

From Project Gutenberg

The girl was too refined to cope with the rough-and-ready young patronesses of The Bunhouse.

From Project Gutenberg

Still the rough-and-ready methods of the earlier centuries were certainly cheaper, and the result was much the same.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the head of the family of Nideck, a rough-and-ready warrior, I can tell you.

From Project Gutenberg

The problem is similar to the present one, except that it is rough-and-ready, compared to the present one.

From Project Gutenberg