putting two and two together
Inferring the obvious
Putting two and two together is figuring something out by combining available evidence or clues.
The phrase suggests basic reasoning—if you can add two and two, you can reach an obvious conclusion: When she saw the lipstick on his collar and smelled perfume, she put two and two together.
Sometimes used with the implication that the conclusion, though logical, might be wrong.
- clueSolving aid
- deducingConcluding from evidence
- hintIndirect suggestion
- connecting the dotsFinding relationships between elements
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
reading between the lines · realization · reasoning · train of thought · mental leap · puzzle · extrapolation · drawing conclusions · synthesis · comprehension · figuring out · detective work · aha moment · light bulb moment · eureka moment · analysis · syllogism · spark
comprehension vs. confusion
putting two and two togethermissing the point
Failing to understand essence