Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

put two and two together and make five

informal humorous

Definition

to understand a particular situation wrongly, often in a way that is more shocking or exciting than the truth: "Why ever did she think you were pregnant?" "I was sick once or twice and I suppose she just put two and two together and made five."Concluding and deducingMisunderstanding
(Definition of put two and two together and make five from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

throw caution to the wind/winds

to do something without worrying about the risk or negative results

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More