PhrasesHub

Fathom out

    Definitions

      • understand or solve
        To figure out or comprehend something that is complex or difficult to understand or solve, often through careful thought or investigation

      • measure depth
        To measure the depth of water using a unit of measurement known as a fathom, which is equal to six feet

    Examples of Fathom out

    • The police are fathoming out who could have committed the robbery based on the CCTV footage and witness statements.

      The phrase "fathoming out" means to understand or figure out something that is complex or challenging. In this example, the police are trying to understand who could have committed the robbery by examining the CCTV footage and talking to witnesses.

    • After reading a few articles and watching some videos, I was fathoming out the best way to repair my car instead of taking it to a mechanic.

      Here, the speaker is saying that they have been doing research and watching tutorials to figure out how to fix their car without the help of a professional mechanic.

    • As I read through the text, I found it hard to fathom out what the author meant by that particular sentence.

      In this example, the speaker is saying that they were struggling to understand what the author meant by a specific sentence or phrase in a text they were reading.

    • The scientists are fathoming out how to prevent the spread of the virus by studying its structure and discovering weaknesses.

      Here, the phrase "fathoming out" represents the scientists' efforts to understand how to stop the virus from spreading further. They are studying its structure and learning about its weaknesses to find a way to prevent it from causing more harm.

    • It was a difficult puzzle, but after fathoming it out, I finally solved it.

      To "fathom out" means to understand or figure out something that is complicated or confusing. In this example, the speaker is saying that they were able to understand and solve a challenging puzzle after thinking about it carefully and thoroughly.

    • The team's strategies for the game were not immediately apparent, but after fathoming them out, we were better prepared to face their tactics.

      In this example, "fathom out" is used to describe the process of discovering or understanding the other team's playing style. By carefully analyzing their tactics and figuring out their approach, the speaker and their team were better prepared to compete against them.

    • I couldn't make heads or tails of the document at first, but after fathoming it out, I realized it was simply a new format for the information.

      When we say we "can't make heads or tails of" something, we mean that we don't understand or cannot interpret it. In this example, the speaker couldn't initially understand the document, but after giving it careful consideration, they understood that it was simply a new format for the information and was easy to comprehend once they knew how to read it.

    • It was hard to predict what the boss would do in this situation, but after fathoming it out, we were prepared for his unconventional decision.

      The phrase "fathom it out" can also be used in a more general sense to describe the process of predicting or understanding something that may be unpredictable or complex. In this example, the speaker couldn't guess what the boss would do in a particular situation, but after thinking about it carefully and thoroughly, they were prepared for his unexpected decision.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "fathom out" has two main meanings that are closely related. The first is to understand or solve something that is complex or difficult. This can refer to a problem, situation, or even a person's behavior. It implies that the task at hand requires a significant amount of thought and effort to fully comprehend or resolve. The second meaning is to measure the depth of water using the unit of measurement known as a fathom. This is often used in nautical contexts, such as for sailing or fishing.

    Both of these meanings share a common theme of depth and understanding. In order to fathom something out, one must delve deep into the subject and truly understand it. This can also be seen in the origin of the idiom.

    Origin of "Fathom out"

    The origins of this idiom can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was first used in nautical contexts to refer to measuring the depth of water. The word "fathom" comes from the Old English word "faethm," meaning "outstretched arms." This was because the length of a fathom was originally measured by the span of a person's outstretched arms.

    Over time, the phrase "fathom out" came to be used in a figurative sense to mean understanding or solving something. This can be seen in its first recorded use in literature in the 17th century, in a play by John Fletcher and Philip Massinger called "The Sea Voyage." In this play, a character says, "I'll fathom out the mystery."

    The use of this idiom has continued to evolve over time, and it is now commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts. Overall, the idiom "fathom out" reflects the human desire to understand and make sense of the world around us, whether it be through measurement or mental exploration.