work out

comprendre, élucider

Comprendre ou éclaircir quelque chose en y réfléchissant attentivement.

En anglais simple : To understand something by thinking about it carefully.

• I cannot work out these instructions.
• She worked out what the strange message meant.
• Have you worked out how this machine works?

Comment l'utiliser : work something out (These instructions are confusing, but we will work them out.); work out how/why… (I worked out why the door would not open.)

Synonymes : figure out, understand

Expressions courantes : work out something, work out why

faire de l’exercice, s’entraîner

Faire de l’exercice pour être en forme ou plus fort, souvent dans une salle de sport.

En anglais simple : To exercise to become fitter or stronger, often at a gym.

• I work out every morning.
• We worked out together at the gym yesterday.
• How often do you work out with weights?

Comment l'utiliser : work out at/in somewhere (She works out at the gym near her office.)

Synonymes : exercise, train

Expressions courantes : work out regularly, work out together, work out daily

calculer

Trouver un nombre ou une quantité en faisant des opérations mathématiques.

En anglais simple : To find a number or amount by using mathematics.

• Work out the total cost.
• I worked out the answer in my head.
• Have you worked out how much each person should pay?

Comment l'utiliser : work something out (We worked the total out together.); work out how much… (Can you work out how much we owe?)

Synonymes : calculate

Expressions courantes : work out costs, work out something

élaborer, mettre au point

Préparer un plan ou établir un accord en réfléchissant, en discutant ou en faisant des efforts.

En anglais simple : To create or arrange something by thinking, discussing, or making an effort.

• Let us work out a plan.
• They worked out an agreement after several meetings.
• We are working out the details with our neighbours.

Comment l'utiliser : work something out with someone (We worked a payment plan out with the bank.)

Synonymes : devise, arrange, hammer out

Expressions courantes : work out details, work out something

se décider, déterminer

Déterminer ce que l’on pense ou veut après avoir réfléchi.

En anglais simple : To decide what you think or want after considering something.

• I need to work out what I want.
• She still has not worked out whether she likes the job.
• Have you worked out which option you prefer?

Comment l'utiliser : work out if/whether… (I am trying to work out whether I want to stay.); work out what… (We need to work out what we really want.)

Synonymes : decide, figure out

Expressions courantes : work out whether, work out preferences

tomber juste

Pour un calcul, donner un résultat juste, sans erreur.

En anglais simple : If a calculation does this, it gives a correct result with no mistakes.

• The calculation works out correctly.
• I checked the sum twice, but it still would not work out.
• Do these figures work out when you include the delivery charge?

Synonymes : add up

Expressions courantes : work out correctly, work out exactly