flat denial meaning in English

完全否认

Holmes said what he could in favor of the project , but my father was decidedly against it , and at last gave a flat denial
霍尔莫斯说了许多对于这个计划赞同的话，但是我的父亲对这件事似乎已有决定，终于严加拒绝。
But i am afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend ; for he would certainly think the better of me , if under such a circumstance i were to give a flat denial , and ride off as fast as i could .
不过，我只怕你这种圆转并不投合那位先生的本意，因为：我如果真遇到这种事，我会爽爽快快地谢绝那位朋友，骑上马就走，那他一定更看得起我。 ”