make neither head nor tail of
Utterly fail understanding
To make neither head nor tail of something is to be completely unable to understand or interpret it: I've read the instructions three times and can make neither head nor tail of them.
The phrase evokes examining something from every angle—front and back—and still finding it incomprehensible.
Also appears as can't make head or tail of.
- inscrutabilityImpossible to understand
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- lost in translationMeaning altered between languages
making sense of · miscommunication · intricacy · misunderstanding · obscurity · clear as mud · befuddlement · vagueness · incoherence · incomprehension · indecipherable · gibberish · convolution · bafflement · beyond me · opacity · unfathomable · puzzlement
make neither head nor tail ofunderstand
Grasp the meaning
comprehend · grasp · make sense of · get · follow
make neither head nor tail ofsee through
Discern despite disguise
see clearly · discern · make out · recognize · identify