to see to
216
2.9
- phrasal verb
- /si tu/
:
encargarse de
- I will see to the arrangements for the party later this week.
- let us see to
- see to their care
You know, you've just got to see to all the bullshit, man.
- You know, you've just got to see to all the bullshit, man.
- Check it down below we can see to buy some mesh networking parts if you would like them.
- So that's kind of like the easiest way I would see to, like, almost remove yourselves.
- The number one thing that I see to add is to add more lead sources.
- To this day, I still have sleeping problems and I still have to see to this very day because of that.
Examples
-
However, I'll see to it that they accept your challenge.
-
I'm going to pack and see to the others.
-
- We'll see to it that you can.
-
Unless I see to every single thing myself in this house, nothing gets done.
-
My father promised her he would see to it that I learned the language.
Fiction book (1990) -
And believe me, I'll try to see to it that you do the full 30 years.
-
I'll see to it right away.
-
- No, I have to see to Mrs Parker.
-
So, Sister, did you see to that business at the harbour?
-
"If he tells us the truth, I'll see to it he gets cured."
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
169
2.7
To take care of something that needs action
151
3.6
To take care of someone or something
91
3.0
To arrange and take care of something
Antonyms
How Responsible
Surface Forms
Morphology
see + to
The meaning 'to deal with / take responsibility for' follows directly from 'see' in the sense 'make sure / take care that something is done' plus the directional/attendant function of the particle 'to' (as in 'attend to'). This compositional relation is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent senses would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrasal verb see to comes from the simple image of someone using see to watch a job and keep an eye on it until it is finished. So, see to means 'to deal with' or 'to take responsibility for' something.