piece together (something)

1. to combine many small details to give a complete description of something.

In this account, Rawson tries to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.

I hadn't told anyone about it, though I suppose someone could have pieced it together.

2. to combine small things to make something bigger.

Peters pieced together night courses for five years to earn a college degree.

We had to piece the money together to pay off our debts.

Etymology: from the idea of combining the parts of something to make a whole

• not in my wildest dreams
• not in the business of
• not in the business of doing something
• not in the least
• not in the same league
• not in the slightest
• not judge a book by its cover
• not know beans about
• not know beans about something
• not know from Adam
• not know if are coming or going
• not know if you are coming or going
• not know someone from Adam
• not know the first thing about
• not know the first thing about something
• not know the half of it
• not know the meaning of the word
• not know what hit
• not know what hit you
• not know where to put
• not know where to put yourself
• not know where to turn
• not know whether are coming or going
• not know whether to laugh or cry
• not know whether you are coming or going