make head(s) (or/nor) tail(s) of
Meaning(s)
1. not able to understand or make sense of something/someone
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
I can't make head nor tail/heads or tails of the document
Analysis
To not be able to make head or tails of something (not be able to make head nor tail of something) means not to be able to understand something in any way. If you can't make head or tails of something, it means you can't understand the problem or how to approach it. This is a popular idiom used in social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Advance)
- I can't make head nor tail of Frank. Sometimes he seems like a great guy, but then, almost at the flick of a switch, he can suddenly become moody and bad-tempered.
- I can't make head nor tails of my German homework. It's much too difficult.
- Even pharmacists sometimes struggle to make head or tails of doctors handwriting from time to time.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- I've been working with the new computer operating system all morning, but I still can't make heads or tails of it. I'll see if someone from IT can help me out.
- We had to call in an expert because none of us could make head nor tails of the latest data.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- The new staff policy directive is so complicated that nobody can make head nor tail of it. I don't know why they couldn't have just kept it simple!