Help...... About " The West Wing" (5)

[english-learner]

How do I understand the phrase " flat-out" in this context? Can you give me a few examples about how to use this phrase? Thanks a lot for your help!!!


LARRY
Every time we use those assault stats, Carr and Gilmore come back...

SAM
Who’s the 76 year old--

LARRY
Every day, 17,000 Americans defend themselves with a gun--

SAM
That’s flat-out not true.

ED
--including a 76 year old grandmother in Chicago, who defended herself against an intruder in the middle of the night.

LARRY
Just don’t use the stats.

SAM
The 76 year old grandmother doesn’t defend herself with a modified AK-47 Assault Rifle, Larry. Unless she’s defending herself against Turkish rebels.

[Tdol]

Flat-out = the maximum speed etc, so here it means 'absolutely'.