Dictionary

see through en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (transitive) To perceive visually through something transparent.
   • Their fabric is so thin that I can see through these curtains.
   • We saw through the water with ease; it was as clear as glass.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To not be deceived by something that is false or misleading; to understand the hidden truth about someone or something.
   • I'm surprised she doesn't see through his lies.
   • I can see through his poker face. He isn't fooling anyone.
   • He was a very scared individual and to cover up his fright he would tell outlandish tales to make himself appear "better" and "bigger" in front of the other convicts. I saw through this and convinced him to just be himself with me and I would like him and respect him more. 1987 February 1, Jeffrey L. Say, “Drop Him A Line”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 28, page 4:
   • Now, when you awfulize you go beyond that and tell yourself, instead “It's horrible, awful and terrible!” You then mean several things, all of which are clearly unprovable and which any self-respecting Martian with an IQ of 100 could easily see through. 2010, Michael E. Bernard, Rationality and the Pursuit of Happiness: The Legacy of Albert Ellis:
3. (idiomatic, transitive) To recognize someone's true motives or character.
   • In that moment, I finally saw through her; this petition drive had nothing to do with her love for animals, and everything to do with impressing Michael, the cute intern.
4. (idiomatic, transitive) To provide support or cooperation to (a person) throughout a period of time; to support someone through a difficult time.
   • And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through.
   • The glory of love might see you through 1976, Lou Reed, “Coney Island Baby”:
   • Forever and ever, yeah / I'll see you through it 1973, Barry White, “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up”:
5. (idiomatic, transitive) To do something until it is finished; to continue working on (something) until it is finished.
   • Despite her health problems, Madame Prime Minister saw the project through.
   • But if the Government really wants our railway to reduce the level of its subsidy and improve value for taxpayers' money, then it must provide the political air cover to enable managers to get on and make the hard decisions that are needed... and then see them through. 2022 January 12, Sir Michael Holden, “Reform of the workforce or death by a thousand cuts?”, in RAIL, number 948, page 25:
6. (ditransitive, idiomatic) To constitute ample supply for one for.
   • Those chocolates should see us through the holiday season.
   • I chop the basil and mix it with garlic, cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil until it becomes the pesto sauce my children love so much. […] We even freeze at least a dozen containers at the end of summer to see us through the long basilless winter. 2012, Mary DeTurris Poust, “The Work of Your Hands”, in Everyday Divine: A Catholic Guide to Active Spirituality, Indianapolis, Ind.: Alpha Books, →ISBN:

Forms

Coordinates

carry out

Deriveds

see-through

Relateds

follow on · rumble · look through · suss out · follow through · follow up

Synonyms

see out · tumble (to sth)

Translations (63)

cmn 看透 (perceive visually through something transparent) · it svelare (avoid being deceived) · es ver a través (perceive visually through something transparent) · fr voir clair dans le jeu de quelqu’un (to recognize someone's true motives) · fr pénétrer (avoid being deceived) · fr voir à travers (perceive visually through something transparent) · es penetrar (to recognize someone's true motives) · pl patrzeć przez (perceive visually through something transparent) · pt enxergar através de (perceive visually through something transparent) · fi nähdä läpi (perceive visually through something transparent) · el αντιλαμβάνομαι (to recognize someone's true motives) · pt não se deixar enganar (avoid being deceived) · it realizzare (to do something until it is finished) · it vedere attraverso (perceive visually through something transparent) · nb gjennomskue (to recognize someone's true motives) · fi viedä loppuun (to do something until it is finished) · fi nähdä läpi (avoid being deceived) · ru ви́деть наскво́зь (to recognize someone's true motives) · pl przejrzeć (to recognize someone's true motives) · es bastar (to constitute ample supply) · de durchschauen (perceive visually through something transparent) · cmn 看穿 (avoid being deceived) · fi nähdä läpi (to recognize someone's true motives) · de durchblicken (to recognize someone's true motives) · ja 透視する (perceive visually through something transparent) · it smascherare (to recognize someone's true motives) · nl volhouden (to do something until it is finished) · ja 見抜く (avoid being deceived) · fi riittää (to constitute ample supply) · cmn 识破 (to recognize someone's true motives) · fr voir clair dans le jeu de quelqu’un (avoid being deceived) · fr percer à jour (to recognize someone's true motives) · pl przetrwać (to provide support or cooperation throughout a period of time) · it soddisfare (to constitute ample supply) · pl przejrzeć (avoid being deceived) · ja 見通す (perceive visually through something transparent) · de durchschauen (to recognize someone's true motives) · nb gjennomskue (avoid being deceived) · it portare a compimento (to do something until it is finished) · de durchschauen (avoid being deceived) · pt não se iludir (to recognize someone's true motives) · it portare a termine (to do something until it is finished) · io vidar trae (perceive visually through something transparent) · ja 見通す (avoid being deceived) · ja やり通す (to do something until it is finished) · ja 見破る (avoid being deceived) · fr assister (to provide support or cooperation throughout a period of time) · cmn 识破 (avoid being deceived) · sv genomskåda (to recognize someone's true motives) · it intravedere (perceive visually through something transparent) · fr achever (to do something until it is finished) · got 𐌸𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌷𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍈𐌰𐌽 (perceive visually through something transparent) · es acabar (to do something until it is finished) · nl doorheen zien (perceive visually through something transparent) · fr suffire (to constitute ample supply) · fr anticiper (to recognize someone's true motives) · es calar (to recognize someone's true motives) · ja やり遂げる (to do something until it is finished) · es descubrir (to recognize someone's true motives) · it completare (to do something until it is finished) · ru ви́деть наскво́зь (avoid being deceived) · ru ви́деть наскво́зь (perceive visually through something transparent) · fi tukea (to provide support or cooperation throughout a period of time)