see through
2 meanings
realise that someone or something is not honest or genuine
What does "see through" mean in this sense?
Examples
- She saw through his charming smile the moment they met.
- Everyone could see through the politician's excuses.
- Did you see through their plan from the beginning?
How to use it
This is the standard pattern — the object always follows the complete phrasal verb and can never be placed between 'see' and 'through'.
She saw through his charm almost immediately.
Modal verbs, especially 'could' and 'can', are very common because the verb describes a cognitive or perceptual ability rather than a deliberate action.
Anyone with experience could see through that excuse.
Adverbs like 'immediately', 'easily', or 'straight away' are frequently added to emphasise how quickly or effortlessly the deception was detected.
The interviewer saw through her story straight away.
When using a pronoun instead of a noun, it must still come after 'through', never between 'see' and 'through'.
He seemed convincing at first, but she saw through him easily.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Unlike some phrasal verbs, this sense of 'see through' cannot be separated. The object — whether a noun or pronoun — must always come after 'through', not between 'see' and 'through'.
The same words can mean 'to support someone during a hard time' (e.g. 'She saw him through the crisis'). Check whether the object is a deception or false behaviour (this sense) or a person going through difficulty (the support sense).
Because 'see through' in this sense describes a perceptual or cognitive state rather than an ongoing action, the present continuous sounds unnatural. Use the simple present or a modal construction instead.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both speaking and writing. It is very commonly used with modal verbs like 'could' or 'can' to describe someone's ability to detect deception.
continue with something until it is finished, even when it is difficult
Sense 2: What does "see sth through" mean?
Examples
- It's going to be difficult, but I'm determined to see this through to the end.
- She saw the entire renovation project through despite the delays and budget problems.
- We've come too far to give up now — let's see it through.
How to use it
The most common structure, where the object (a task, project, or plan) goes between the verb and the particle. This separated form is strongly preferred.
The team worked hard to see the deal through despite the unexpected complications.
With pronouns like 'it', 'this', or 'them', the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle — never after 'through'.
I know the training programme is tough, but I'm going to see it through.
Adding 'to the end' or 'to completion' strengthens the idea that the task will be finished completely, not just partially.
She was determined to see the restructuring process through to completion.
This phrasal verb frequently appears after expressions of strong intent, reinforcing the idea of commitment in the face of difficulty.
Despite the budget cuts, the director remained committed to seeing the campaign through.
When the task or situation is already understood from context, the end point doesn't need to be stated explicitly.
It won't be easy, but we'll see it through together.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
With pronoun objects, you must place the pronoun between the verb and 'through', not after it. Saying 'see through it' sounds unnatural in this sense and will likely be understood as the different meaning of 'see through' — to detect a deception.
When the object is a person or a lie, 'see through' means to detect dishonesty, not to complete something. To express perseverance, the object must be a task, plan, or commitment, and the form should be separated.
'See through' in this sense sounds awkward in the present continuous. Use expressions of intent or the simple present instead to talk about ongoing commitment.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both formal writing and everyday speech. It is often paired with expressions of determination such as 'I'm determined to see it through' or 'we'll see this through to the end'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'see through' always mean detecting a lie? I've heard it used in other ways.
No — the same form has other meanings. It can mean supporting someone through a difficult period ('her friends saw her through the tough months') or completing a task ('he saw the project through'). On this page we focus only on the 'detect deception' sense. Context, and especially the type of object, usually makes the meaning clear.
What kinds of things can be the object of 'see through' in this sense?
The object is typically a deception-related noun — such as a lie, excuse, disguise, trick, facade, scheme, or flattery — or it can be a person whose false behaviour you have detected. You wouldn't normally use a task or project as the object in this sense, as those belong to a different meaning of the phrasal verb.
Can 'see through' be used in the passive, like 'his lies were seen through'?
This is technically possible but sounds very unnatural and is rarely used. In practice, speakers almost always keep the person who detects the deception as the subject: 'Everyone saw through his lies' rather than 'His lies were seen through by everyone'.
What's the difference between 'see through' and 'see past' someone?
'See through' specifically implies detecting that someone or something is false or dishonest. 'See past' a quality more often means not being distracted by it in order to notice something positive — for example, 'she could see past his shyness and recognised his talent'. The two aren't always interchangeable.
Why do I hear 'could see through' so often — is there a reason for that?
Yes — because this phrasal verb describes a mental or perceptual ability (recognising deception), it pairs naturally with modal verbs like 'could' and 'can'. Saying 'could see through' emphasises that someone had the insight or experience to detect the deception, which is often what speakers want to convey.
Does 'see through' always mean to complete something? I've seen it used differently.
No — 'see through' has more than one meaning. This sense means to persist with a task until it's finished. A different, unrelated sense means to detect that someone is lying or hiding something (e.g. 'I can see through her excuse'). A third sense is purely physical, referring to looking through a transparent surface. Context — and especially what kind of object follows — tells you which meaning is intended.
Can 'see through' be used in the passive, like 'the project was seen through'?
Technically it's possible, but native speakers almost never use this phrasal verb in the passive. Because 'see something through' is about someone actively persevering, the focus stays on the person doing the persevering, not on the task itself. It's much more natural to keep the person as the subject.
Is 'see something through to the end' a fixed phrase, or can I change the wording?
'See something through to the end' is a very common and natural pattern, but it's not fixed. You can also say 'see it through to completion', 'see the plan through to the final stage', and so on. The key elements are the separated verb and particle, plus some indication that you mean all the way to the finish.
What's the difference between 'see it through' and 'see it out'?
'See out' is typically used with a period of time, like a contract, season, or term — it means to last until that period ends. 'See through' is used with tasks, projects, or plans, and emphasises active perseverance despite difficulties. So you might 'see out your contract' but 'see a project through'.
Ready to practise?
Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.
Start Practising →