figure\ out

figure\ out
v
1. To find an answer by thinking about (some problem or difficulty); solve.

Tom couldn't figure out the last problem on the arithmetic test.

Sam couldn't figure out how to print a program until the teacher showed him how.

Mary couldn't figure out why her cake tasted so funny until she found salt mixed in the sugar bag.

Compare: find out(1)
2. To learn how to explain; understand.

Laurence is an odd boy; I can't figure him out.

Compare: make out(2)

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • figure out — figure (someone) out to understand why someone behaves the way they do. I ve never been able to figure her out. Could anyone ever figure out my parents? …   New idioms dictionary

  • figure out — (something) to understand something by thinking about it. After I figured out that I would earn only eighty cents an hour, I said forget it. She spent an hour trying to install the software, but John finally figured it out. Related vocabulary:… …   New idioms dictionary

  • figure out — index ascertain, calculate, conceive (comprehend), construe (comprehend), find (discover) …   Law dictionary

  • figure out — verb find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of (Freq. 6) did you solve the problem? Work out your problems with the boss this unpleasant situation isn t going to work itself out did you get it? Did you get my… …   Useful english dictionary

  • figure out — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms figure out : present tense I/you/we/they figure out he/she/it figures out present participle figuring out past tense figured out past participle figured out 1) to be able to understand something or to solve a… …   English dictionary

  • figure out — UK US figure out Phrasal Verb with figure({{}}/ˈfɪgər/ verb ► to understand or solve something: figure out how/why/what, etc. »If they know the cause of the problem, they might be able to figure out how to prevent it happening again. »It takes… …   Financial and business terms

  • figure out — {v.} 1. To find an answer by thinking about (some problem or difficulty); solve. * /Tom couldn t figure out the last problem on the arithmetic test./ * /Sam couldn t figure out how to print a program until the teacher showed him how./ * /Mary… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • figure out — {v.} 1. To find an answer by thinking about (some problem or difficulty); solve. * /Tom couldn t figure out the last problem on the arithmetic test./ * /Sam couldn t figure out how to print a program until the teacher showed him how./ * /Mary… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • figure out — PHRASAL VERB If you figure out a solution to a problem or the reason for something, you succeed in solving it or understanding it. [INFORMAL] [V P wh/that] It took them about one month to figure out how to start the equipment... [V P n (not… …   English dictionary

  • figure out — v. (colloq.) (AE) 1) (L) he figured out that we could not possibly get there on time 2) (Q) she could not figure out how to do it * * * [ fɪgə(r) aʊt] (Q) she could not figure out how to do it (colloq.) (AE) (L) he figure outd out that we could… …   Combinatory dictionary

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