go figure

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   A comment you add after describing something odd or ironic, meaning that it makes little sense and you cannot explain it.

   Grammar: Stands alone as a short remark, usually at the end: It rained all day on my day off. Go figure.

   I studied all night and got a B, while my friend, who didn't study, got an A. Go figure.

   The cheapest hotel had the best view. Go figure.

   They closed the pharmacy the week the flu season began, go figure.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   An invitation to work something out or imagine it for yourself, usually because it seems obvious or absurd.

   Grammar: Rare as an actual instruction; it often sounds sarcastic.

   He called me at midnight to ask if I was awake. Go figure!

   Why did the printer break right before the deadline? Go figure.

   You tell her the surprise and she acts shocked. Go figure.

Common combinations

Well, go figure.

The bakery ran out of bread by noon. Well, go figure.

Go figure!

I lost my keys in the one place I never go. Go figure!

and go figure

I checked twice, and go figure, it was in my pocket.

Now go figure.

The test was easy, and nobody passed. Now go figure.

Synonyms and how they differ

imagine that

Imagine that is similar but a little gentler, often sounding more amused than sarcastic.

how about that

How about that expresses surprise and can be pleased, while go figure suggests irony or bafflement.

who would have thought

Who would have thought focuses on unexpectedness, but go figure leans on the illogical side.

Word family

figure out phrase

to understand or solve something

figure verb

to think or calculate

Commonly confused: go figure or figure out?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “go figure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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