Thinking and learning

brush up (on)

practice and improve your skills or knowledge of something

come (a)round to

change your opinion or decision because someone has persuaded you to agree with them

come up with

to think of or produce an idea, plan, or solution.

face up to

to accept with something and deal with it

figure out

be able to understand something or solve a problem; understand what someone is like and why they behave in the way they do

hit upon

suddenly have an idea; discover something by chance

make out

see , hear or understand someone or something with difficult; suggest; imply

mull over

think carefully about something over a period of time

piece together

learn the truth about something by considering all the separate bits of information

puzzle out

solve a confusing or complicated problem by thinking carefully about it

read up (on/about)

get information on a particular subject by reading a lot about it

swot up (on)

study something very hard , especially for exam

take in

understand or remember something that you hear or read; accept something as real or true , trick someone into believing something that is not true

think over

consider a problem or decision carefully

think through

consider the facts about something in an organised and thorough way

think up

invent or image something , especially an excuse