to does not compute
3
7.7
- phrasal verb
- /dʌz nɑt kəmˈpjut/
- It doesn't compute.
- it just does not compute
- does not compute, she said
- the numbers don't compute
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Watch on YouTubeAnd, and, and that for me just does not compute.
- And, and, and that for me just does not compute.
- And the fact is some brains said, no thanks, like this does not compute.
- And that did not compute for them because now I'm like no longer on the lobbyist train.
Examples
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We can't have it both ways; it doesn't compute.
Blog text (1) -
Something does not compute here.
Blog text (5) -
Like I said, does not compute.
Blog text (2) -
That does not compute. We need a video with sound before such claims.
Blog text (21) -
This, however, does not compute.
Blog text (5) -
It's so wild, like my brain does not compute yet that this is an iMac.
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Something doesn't compute there, at least for me.
Blog text (24) -
Logically, this is correct; emotionally, though, it doesn't compute.
Academic text (2001) -
That doesn't compute, really.
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Even though I listened carefully, her explanation just does not compute to me.
Synonyms
Calculations or reasoning do not add up
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines 'does not' + 'compute' (compute = calculate/process), so a learner who knows these words can infer that something cannot be processed or made sense of. However, the use of 'compute' as a metaphor for understanding is an extended, language-specific metaphor rather than strictly compositional, so the connection is not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
The phrase does not compute comes from early computers and robot stories. When a machine could not compute an answer it gave an error or stopped working. That's why we use it when something 'makes no sense' or cannot be understood.