english
1
general::
see sb out
( also see sb to the door )
to go to the door of a building or room with someone who does not live or work there, when they are leaving
• My secretary will see you out., see sb off
[ M ] SAY GOODBYE
1. to go to the place that someone is leaving from in order to say goodbye to them
• My parents saw me off at the airport., see sth out
[ M ]
to wait or last until the end of a difficult event or situation
• The besieged town hasn't enough food to see the month out.
• They saw out the storm in the best shelter they could find., see through sb/sth
to realise that someone is trying to deceive you to get an advantage, or that someone's behaviour is intended to deceive you, and to understand the truth about the situation
• They were very friendly, but I quickly saw through them.
• She saw through his excuse at once., see yourself out
[ R ] ( also see yourself to the door )
to leave a building or room by yourself after visiting someone there
• It's ok - I'll see myself out., see to sth/sb
to deal with a person or task that needs to be dealt with or is waiting to be dealt with
• "These letters need posting." "I'll see to them later."
• Mrs Chapman asked for some help with the orders - could you see to it?
• [ + that ]: Please see to it that no-one comes in without identification., see sb through sth
to help or support someone during a difficult period in their life
• He was a prisoner of war for five years, but his courage saw him through.
• My brother's lent me £500 to see me through the next few weeks., see sb/sth off
[ M ] informal
to defeat someone or something, or to deal with them effectively so that they can no longer cause harm
• England saw off Luxembourg 5-0.
• He may not have seen off the challengers for the leadership of the party, but he has at least silenced them for a while., see about sth
informal
to prepare for or deal with an action or event, or to arrange for something to be done
• It's getting late - I'd better see about lunch.
• [ + -ing verb ]: You should see about getting your hair cut., see sth in sb/sth
to believe that someone or something has a particular quality
• We don't travel on bank holiday weekends - I just can't see the pleasure in it., see sth through
to continue doing a job or activity until it is finished, especially when it is difficult
• The course would take me three years to complete, but I was determined to see it through., see sb off
[ M ] GET RID OF
2. to send away an attacker or unwanted person, usually forcefully
• The caretaker ran out and saw off the boys who had been damaging the fence.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
see
to notice something with your eyes, usually without planning to. Also used when saying that you watched a particular programme, film, game etc:
• Have you seen my keys anywhere? • Did you see the basketball game last night?
look at somebody/something
to keep your eyes pointed toward someone or something, especially someone or something that is not moving:
• I looked at the map. • She was looking at him in a strange way.
notice
to see something interesting or unusual:
• I noticed a police car outside their house.
spot
to suddenly see something, especially something you are looking for:
• Nick spotted the advertisement in the paper.
catch sight of/catch a glimpse of
( also glimpse formal ) to suddenly see someone or something for a short time, usually not clearly:
• I caught sight of him in the hotel lobby, and followed him out the door. • He glimpsed her face as she went into the courtroom.
make out somebody/something
to see something, but only with difficulty:
• Ahead, I could just make out the figure of a woman.
witness
to see something happen, especially a crime or an accident:
• The police are asking anyone who witnessed the attack to come forward.
observe
formal to see and pay attention to something:
• Officers observed him driving at 100 mph.
Longman-Thesaurus
3
general::
verb
behold:
You can see the mountains from here.
verb
examine:
I want to see their passports.
verb
discern:
I want to see if they are honest.
verb
understand:
I see what you mean.
verb
picture:
I can see the situation you spoke of.
verb
encounter:
I hope we do not see any bears.
verb
accompany:
We will see him to the airport.
verb
call on:
I must see the Governor immediately.
Simple Definitions
4
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with SEE, Also see AS FAR AS I CAN SEE; BEGIN TO SEE DAYLIGHT; CAN'T SEE BEYOND THE END OF ONE'S NOSE; CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES; I'LL BE SEEING YOU; I SEE; LET ME SEE; LONG TIME NO SEE; SO I SEE; WAIT AND SEE. Also see under SEEN.
American Heritage Idioms
5
general::
verb become aware of sth using your eyes ADV. clearly | dimly | hardly I could hardly see because of the smoke. | just We could just see the hotel in the distance. | suddenly VERB + SEE be able to, can/could I could see the boat quite clearly now. | strain to | be amazed to, be surprised to He was surprised to see Lucy standing there. | be relieved to | be glad to, be overjoyed to, be pleased to I'm glad to see that you're keeping well. | let sb A dolphin? Oh, let me see! PHRASES turn and see He turned and saw her smile. meet/visit sb VERB + SEE want to, wish to What is it you want to see me about? | live to He didn't live to see his grandchildren. | be glad to, be overjoyed to, be pleased to Aren't you pleased to see me? PREP. about She's gone to see the mechanic about getting her car repaired. go with/accompany sb PHRASES see sb home Don't worry, I'll see you home. understand/realize sth VERB + SEE can/can't, don't I can see why you were so angry about it. I don't see why she should get more money than the others. | be difficult to It is difficult to see how to get round this problem. find out VERB + SEE want to I want to see how they'll react. | let sb Let's see what happens. PHRASES go and see ‘Has the post come yet?’ ‘I'll just go and see.’ | wait and see ‘Is he going to get better?’ ‘I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see.’
Oxford Collocations Dictionary