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think up

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think something up

to contrive or invent something. Don't worry. I'll find a way to do it. I can think something up in time to get it done. John thought up a way to solve our problem.

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think up something

also think something up

to invent something She used to think up funny things just to make him laugh. Sitting in the school yard, I thought up a scheme to get the older boys on my side. They had to do something fast, and they were smart to actually think that up.

Related vocabulary: dream up something

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think up

Devise, contrive by thinking, as in She's an expert at thinking up interesting programs. [Mid-1800s]

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think up

v.

To devise or develop something: She thought up a plan to make more money. He thought the design up all by himself.

See also: think, up