The difference between "work out, make out and figure out"?
I can go anywhere if I ________ how to use the subway.
A. work out B. make out C. point out D. figure out

The answer given is A.
I look up all these phrases in dictionary and according to the dictionary, "figure out"="work out" means "understand by thinking or other things you do"
"make out" only means understand

If so, then ABD are all correct?
I'm quite confused.

Question

The difference between "work out, make out and figure out"?
I can go anywhere if I ________ how to use the subway.
A. work out  B. make out  C. point out  D. figure out

The answer given is A.
I look up all these phrases in dictionary and according to the dictionary, "figure out"="work out" means "understand by thinking or other things you do"
"make out" only means understand

If so, then ABD are all correct?
I'm quite confused.

Answer

"work out" and "figure out" are both right and equally acceptable.  If your book does not make this clear, then the book is not helpful, at least on this issue.

"make out" means that your senses cannot accurately identify the information being communicated e.g. because the text is too small, or the audio is too distorted.  "I can't make out what you are saying when you are eat a hamburger."

Non perdere l'opportunità di imparare una lingua comodamente da casa tua. Esplora la nostra selezione di insegnanti di lingue esperti e iscriviti subito alla tua prima lezione!