Meaning
solve or understand after thought
Primary Function
transitive phrasal verb of mental resolution
Communicative Purpose
describing problem-solving, comprehension
Pattern
figure ; out
Core Structure
figure ; out
Função primária
transitive phrasal verb of mental resolution
Propósito comunicativo
describing problem-solving, comprehension
Situações de gatilho
puzzles, complex situations, understanding people
Contextos
everyday, academic, professional
Padrão
figure ; out
Estrutura central
figure ; out
Slots de substituição
the answer, how to do it, what he meant, the problem
Colocados típicos
- try to
- eventually
- still trying to
Substituições comuns
- work out
- understand
- solve
- puzzle out
Erros comuns
*figure out about something – not needed
Similar / contraste
find out (discover fact), sort out (organize)
Interferências
‘Figure out’ requires mental effort; don’t use for physical search.
Família do chunk
- figure-outable (informal)
Nuance
informal but widely accepted; suggests a cognitive process rather than mere discovery.
Efeito pragmático
relatable and thoughtful expression of seeking understanding or solution.
Dica de memória
“I can’t figure out this riddle.”
Nota
This phrasal verb is commonly used in everyday language to describe the process of solving problems or understanding complex information. It is often used with a direct object that represents the thing being solved or understood. The phrasal verb can be separable, meaning the object can come before or after the particle 'out'.
Upgrade path
figure something out the hard way
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