Des C1C2: Topic Vocab: Learning

miss the point (idi)

to not understand something correctly or what is important about it
e.g. What you say is true, but you've missed the point of my argument.
= confound, confuse, fail
=/ clarify, clear up

overhaul (v) (/əʊ.vəˈhɔːl/)

(1) to repair an engine, machine, etc. so that every part of it works as it should
e.g. I got the engine overhauled.
= check, service, maintain
=/ break, damage

(2) to completely change a system so that it works more effectively
e.g. The government has recently overhauled the healthcare system.

(3) to completely change something, especially by getting rid of some people or things and replacing them with others
e.g. Most women don't overhaul their wardrobes from season to season.

conscientious (adj) (/ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs/)

Someone who is conscientious is very careful to do their work properly.
e.g. We are generally very conscientious about our work.
= thorough, particular, careful
=/ careless, indifferent

mull (v,n)/ mull sth over (/mʌl/) / (ph.v)

To think about a problem, plan, etc for a long time before making a decision
e.g. Last month, a federal grand jury began mulling evidence in the case.
= contemplate, deliberate, examine
=/ ignore, neglect

piece together sth (ph.v)

(1) to create something by joining the separate parts of it together or by joining different things together
e.g. The ancient skull has been pieced together from fragments.
= compile, construct, erect
=/ break, destroy

(2) If you piece together facts or information, you collect them in order to understand a situation
e.g. Investigators are trying to piece together what happened just before the accident.

take sth in

(1) to understand completely the meaning or importance of something
e.g. had to read the letter twice before I could take it all in.

(3) to do paid work for other people, such as washing or sewing, in your home:
e.g. She supported her family by taking in laundry.

hit sb up (ph.v)

to ask someone for something
e.g. She tried to hit me up for a loan till payday, but I didn’t have any money to give her.

hit on/upon something (ph.v)

to think of an idea when you didn't expect or intend to, especially one that solves a problem
e.g. When we first hit on the idea, everyone told us it would never work.

think sth up (ph.v)

to produce a new idea or plan
e.g. I don't want to go tonight but I can't think up a good excuse.

think sth over/through

to consider something carefully
e.g. They’ve made me a good offer, but I’ll have to think it over.
= acknowledge, contemplate, deal with
=/ disregard, forget

face up to (ph.v)

to accept that a difficult situation exists
e.g. She's going to have to face up to the fact that he's not going to marry her.
= encounter, meet
=/ avoid, dodge, evade

brush up on (ph.v)

to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten
e.g. I thought I'd brush up (on) my French before going to Paris.
= bone up, brush up, cram