can't make anything out (of something)

can't make anything out (of something)

To fail or be unable to understand, decipher, or make sense (of something). I tried reading the hieroglyphs on the ancient tablet, but it was so worn that I couldn't make anything out. See if you can figure out what this contract is saying—I can't make anything out of all this legal mumbo jumbo.
See also: anything, make, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • not able to make anything out
  • not able to make anything out (of something)
  • can't make heads nor tails of (someone or something)
  • not able to make head nor tail (out) of (something)
  • not able to make head or tail (out) of (something)
  • not able to make head or tail of
  • not able to make heads nor tails (out) of (something)
  • not able to make heads or tails (out) of (something)
  • be another of life's great mysteries
  • an open book