to think it through
105
3.2
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
pensarlo bien
- After Barbara left, I sat for a moment, thinking it through.
- think through problems
- think through ideas
- think through the situation
I suppose I try to think it through once again.
- I suppose I try to think it through once again.
- We're mediating it by thinking it through in our present circumstance.
- And then he says, let's not take this analogy too far, let's think it through, right?
- So it has quite, yeah, big implications if you really think it through.
- Do you feel like people get married too easily or that they don't think it through?
- So don't take advice from anyone unless you really think it through.
- I'm doing an iced coffee bar and I haven't fully thought it through.
- I think we're pretty good about trying to listen to every piece of criticism, think it through, internalize what we agree with.
- And we didn't tell him about this and what we didn't know or we hadn't really thought it through.
- So in that instance, I'm going to hold off on replying until I can gather myself, think it through, and now act on it and respond.
Examples
-
I needed a chance to think things through without having to explain myself to him.
Fiction book (2000) -
Think it through.
-
You can control this by thinking it through, all right.
-
Charlie seemed to be thinking through what he wanted to say next.
Fiction book (1999) -
Okay, let's think it through.
-
I think we're pretty good about trying to listen to every piece of criticism, think it through, internalize what we agree with.
-
If these questions are carefully thought through, they all can evolve into workable policies.
Academic text (1991) -
Lawmakers who opposed the resolution also thought through their own political agendas and interests.
Academic text (2003) -
They just hadn't thought it through.
-
Before making a decision, it's important to think it through to understand the consequences.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Study something carefully to understand it or decide
∞
1.1
To think carefully before making a decision
265
3.9
To think carefully about something before making a decision
215
3.7
To think carefully about different things before deciding
186
4.8
To think deeply about something for a long time
134
4.3
Think carefully for a long time about something
120
4.0
To think carefully about something and what it means
107
3.6
Carefully consider something before you act to avoid a mistake
45
3.9
To plan something carefully before you do it
43
4.4
To think about something very carefully before deciding
36
4.7
Think carefully for a long time before making a decision
26
3.7
To delay making a decision until the next day to think about it
19
4.0
To think carefully about something before deciding
14
3.9
To think carefully about something for a while before deciding
8
3.8
Think carefully about different choices before you decide
8
3.0
To look at something carefully before deciding
2
4.4
Carefully think about and compare options before deciding
2
3.6
To consider what might happen before you do something
2
5.9
Think carefully about possible risks before you act
1
4.1
To think carefully about something for a long time
To think very carefully to find a new idea or solution
Delay making a decision until after you think about it overnight
Antonyms
How Thorough
- US
675
3.2
868
2.5
- Informal
105
3.2
22
4.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to consider all the details' is directly derivable from combining 'think' (engage mental processes) with 'through' (completely/thoroughly); 'it' functions as a simple object pronoun. This verb+particle composition is common and follows standard compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Think it through gives the picture of thinking your way through a situation, like walking through a room in your mind and checking every corner before you act. So it means 'to consider all the details and possible effects before making a decision'.