English idiom

wrap your head around something

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

To fully understand something complicated.

Why this phrase?

Understanding is pictured as mentally encircling a difficult idea until it can be held as a whole.

Example

“I still can't wrap my head around how the trick works.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

get one's head (a)round

to manage to understand something difficult or surprising

get to grips with

to begin to understand and deal with a difficult problem or task

back to basics

returning to the simple, fundamental principles of an activity

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

get the picture

to understand a situation, especially after an explanation

get up to speed

to become informed or current on a topic, project, or situation

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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