pencil out en · VERB
Etymology
From pencil + out (possibly based on or influenced by work out), the idea being that rough calculations are temporarily written in pencil rather than permanently written in pen.
Meanings
- Of an investment, to make sense financially or to be expected to generate the desired returns.
- To roughly calculate the expected returns of an investment.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pencils out | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| pencilling out | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | UK | lexicographic |
| penciling out | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | US | lexicographic |
| pencilled out | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | UK | lexicographic |
| pencilled out | Tense=Past | UK | lexicographic |
| penciled out | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | US | lexicographic |
| penciled out | Tense=Past | US | lexicographic |