sheds light on
Makes something understandable
To shed light on something is to clarify or explain it, making obscure matters easier to understand: The investigation shed light on how the company had concealed its losses.
The metaphor treats understanding as illumination—bringing something out of darkness into visibility.
- illuminatesProvides light to
- clarifiesMakes more understandable
- makes clearRenders understandable
- clears upBecomes understood or sunny
- deciphersInterprets coded messages
elucidates · makes sense of · demystifies · breaks down · uncovers · understanding · explanation · reveals · exposes · gets to the bottom of · elaborates · informs · defines · spells out · educates · teaches · highlights · interprets