solve a mystery

Meaning

To find the truth or the explanation behind something strange, unknown, or puzzling. It is frequently used when talking about detective stories, movies, games, or real-life unexplained events.

Examples

• The detective spent years trying to solve the mystery of the missing painting.

  The detective spent years trying to solve the mystery of the missing painting.

• I love reading crime novels where the main character has to solve a mystery.

  I love reading crime novels where the main character has to solve a mystery.

• We managed to solve the mystery of why the car wouldn't start this morning.

  We managed to solve the mystery of why the car wouldn't start this morning.

• In this escape room game, players must work together to solve a mystery.

  In this escape room game, players must work together to solve a mystery.

• Scientists are still working to solve the mystery of how these ancient structures were built.

  Scientists are still working to solve the mystery of how these ancient structures were built.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ decide a mystery

  ✓ solve a mystery

  'Decide' is used for making a choice. 'Solve' is the correct collocation for finding an answer to a puzzle or mystery.

• ✗ solve a secret

  ✓ keep a secret

  You 'keep' or 'reveal' a secret, but you 'solve' a mystery.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The kids tried to ___ of who ate the last cookie.

  💡 find the explanation

  Show answer

  solve the mystery

• It took the police months to ___.

  💡 find the answer to the puzzle

  Show answer

  solve the mystery