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"Clear up" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "despejarse", and "figure out" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "resolver". Learn more about the difference between "clear up" and "figure out" below.
clear up(
klihr
uhp
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (to improve)
a. despejarse
It rained all night and all morning and finally cleared up in the afternoon.Llovió toda la noche y la mañana y por fin se despejó en la tarde.
a. ordenar
Frank, go help your sister clear up in the kitchen.Frank, ve a ayudarle a tu hermana a ordenar la cocina.
a. mejorarse
My cold cleared up after a good hot shower.Mi resfriado se mejoró después de una buena ducha caliente.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. ordenar
You have to clear up this mess before you can go out and play.Tienes que ordenar este lío antes de salir a jugar.
6. (to resolve)
b. aclarar
Please clear this up for me; I can't see what you meant.Por favor, aclárame esto; no entiendo qué quisiste decir.
c. esclarecer
When Rodney watched the video, it cleared up the confusion he'd had.Cuando Rodney vio el video, esclareció la confusión que había tenido.
figure out(
fih
-
gyuhr
aut
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (to solve)
a. resolver
The first one to figure out the problem gets a prize.El primero que resuelva el problema, se gana un premio.
b. descifrar
Sherlock Holmes figured out the mystery of the stolen jewelry.Sherlock Holmes descifró el misterio de las joyas robadas.
c. calcular (in mathematics)
Figure out the sum of the inner angles of the polygon.Calcula la suma de los ángulos interiores del polígono.
a. entender
The instructions shouldn't be this difficult. I'm really struggling to figure them out.Las instrucciones no deberían ser tan difícles. Me está costando bastante entenderlas.
