Thinking and Learning

Question 1

to baffle

Answer 1

to confuse

Question 2

to deliberate

Answer 2

doing sth. intentionally

Question 3

guesswork

Question 4

hunch

Answer 4

premonition or intuitive feeling

Question 5

to reflect

Question 6

brush up (on)

Question 7

come (a)round to

Answer 7

change your opinion or decision

Question 8

come up with

Answer 8

think of something such as an idea or a plan

Question 9

face up to

Answer 9

accept something and try to deal with it

Question 10

hit upon

Answer 10

suddenly have an idea, discover something by chance

Question 11

mull over

Answer 11

think carefully about sth. over a period of time

Question 12

to piece together

Answer 12

learn the truth about sth. by considering all the separate bits of information you have

Question 13

to puzzle out

Answer 13

solve a complicated problem by thinking carefully about it

Question 14

to read up (on/about)

Answer 14

get information on a particular subject by reading a lot about it

Question 15

to swot up (on)

Answer 15

study very hard

Question 16

to take in

Answer 16

understand and remember sth. that you hear and read; accept sth. as real or true; trick s.o. into believing sth. that is not true

Question 17

to think over

Answer 17

consider a problem or decision carefully

Question 18

to think through

Answer 18

consider the facts about sth. in ab organised and thorough way

Question 19

to think up

Answer 19

invent or imagine sth., especially an excuse

Question 20

to take account of

Question 21

to come to/arrive at/reach a conclusion

Question 22

foregone conclusion

Answer 22

an inevitable outcome

Question 23

to give consideration to

Question 24

out of consideration for

Question 25

to cast doubt on

Question 26

to make up your mind

Question 27

to cross/slip your mind

Question 28

to have a one-track mind

Answer 28

focus on a single issue

Question 29

to take your mind off

Answer 29

stop thinking/worrying about sth.

Question 30

in two minds about

Question 31

to bring to mind

Answer 31

to cause to recall

Question 32

to put into perspective

Answer 32

clarify, appraise, assess true value, importance or significance

Question 33

to sense that

Question 34

to see both sides (of an argument)

Question 35

on either side (of)

Question 36

to think/see straight

Answer 36

think rationally

Question 37

to set/put sb straight about

Answer 37

correct someone’s belief, attitude or behaviour

Question 38

to get straight

Answer 38

understand clearly

Question 39

straight talking

Answer 39

talk in an honest manner

Question 40

to go to your head

Answer 40

your success makes you think that you are better than you really are

Question 41

to cross someone’s mind

Answer 41

to be thought of by someone; suddenly occur to one

Question 42

to take a dim/poor view of

Answer 42

disapprove sth.

Question 43

to have your wits about you

Answer 43

be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions

Question 44

in the dark about

Answer 44

not knowing very much about sth.

Question 45

know what’s what

Answer 45

know the important facts about a situation

Question 46

not have a leg to stand on

Answer 46

not have any way of proving that you are right about sth.

Question 47

not see the wood for the trees

Answer 47

someone who is not able to understand what is important in a situation because they are thinking too much about small details

Question 48

put two and two together

Answer 48

guess what is happening or what something means based on what you have seen or heard

Question 49

quick/slow on the uptake

Answer 49

taking a very short/long time to understand or realise sth.

Question 50

ring a bell

Answer 50

sth. sounds familiar to you but you cannot remember the exact details

Question 51

round the bend

Answer 51

crazy

Question 52

split hairs

Answer 52

argue or worry about very small details or differences that are not important

Question 53

take stock of

Answer 53

spend some time thinking about the situation you are in before you decide what to do next

Question 54

get the fuss about sth.

Question 55

to beat about the bush

Answer 55

discuss a matter without coming to the point

Question 56

see eye to eye

Answer 56

agree with sth.