figure sb/sth out
phr. v.. B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford
phr. v.. to understand someone or something after thinking about them for a while.
phr. v.. to reach an understanding of a person's character or a complex situation through mental effort or analysis.
I finally figured out how to use the new coffee machine.
It took me a long time to figure him out, but I eventually realized he was just shy.
Scientists are still trying to figure out the exact mechanisms that trigger this specific genetic mutation.
- Particles
- out
- Separability
- optional
- Pattern
- figure + (object) + out
Usage
the object can be a noun, a pronoun, or a 'wh-' clause like 'how' or 'why'.
Teaching tip
highlight that when the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'him', it must go between 'figure' and 'out'.
Pitfall
I figured out it.I figured it out.if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.