make heads or tails of

make heads or tails of someone or something

Fig. to understand someone or something that someone has said. (Usually with the negative.) I can't make heads or tails of Fred. No one can make heads or tails of this problem.

See also: head, make, tail

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make heads or tails (out) of something

to understand something The way the document was worded was incredibly complicated - no one could make heads or tails out of it.

Usage notes: almost always used in the negative

See also: head, make, tail