Make sense

Meaning

The idiom "make sense" means that something is understandable or logical. It can also imply that the information being presented is accurate or correct. The phrase "it makes sense" is often used to express agreement or understanding.

Usage

• After hearing the explanation, it finally made sense to me why they did that. (literal)
• I don't understand why she acted that way; it doesn't make sense to me. (figurative)
• The data presented in the report made sense to the team, and they were able to make informed decisions. (literal)
• The proposal didn't make sense to me, so I asked for more details. (figurative)
• When I saw the finished product, it all made sense to me why they chose that design. (literal)

Roots and History

The idiom "make sense" has been in use since at least the 18th century. The earliest known use of the phrase was in a collection of proverbs in 1730, which included "A thing that makes no sense is nonsense." The figurative meaning of the phrase became more common in the 20th century and has since become a standard part of contemporary language.

Synonyms in English

• Make sense to me: This phrase means that something is understandable or logical to someone.
• It's clear to me: This phrase means that something is easy to understand.
• I see what you mean: This phrase means that someone has explained something in a way that makes sense to the listener.

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - "Makes sense" can be translated as "Es lógico".
• French - "Makes sense" can be translated as "Il est logique".
• German - "Makes sense" can be translated as "Es ist sinnvoll".
• Italian - "Makes sense" can be translated as "È sensato".
• Arabic - "Makes sense" can be translated as "مساعدة".

Similar Idioms

• mad at

• monkey business

• more than meets the eye