cannot be seen through

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot be seen through" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not transparent or that something cannot be understood. For example: "The true motives behind her actions cannot be seen through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The storm damage cannot be seen through the door of a subway car, at least by the untrained eye.

The New York Times

"A drop of water, a piece of land, or a kilojoule of renewable energy cannot be seen through the single lens of one sectoral policy or management system.

The Guardian

His windows cannot be seen through, his doors cannot be opened and the figures produce no element of vitality into the rooms.

The Economist

Ms. Scott yelled several times for her husband to "get out the car," but on the video, he cannot be seen through the window of the S.U.V. "Keith, don't do it," Ms. Scott shouted, as the video showed her backing away and panning to the ground.

The New York Times

Dr. Plotz, according to the paper, has found that the agent which causes measles is one of the filterable viruses: that is, an agent which is so small it passes through the finest filter and cannot be seen through the most powerful microscope available.

The New York Times

The patient is blinded for the intervention by means of a mask that cannot be seen through.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Today's elections cannot be seen entirely through the prism of Mr Blair's record, but both he and Mr Brown, virtually certain to replace him, will watch the voters' verdict with concern.

The Guardian

Unlike a broken leg, for example, a brain disorder such as autism, cannot be seen, except through behavior considered "abnormal" or "different".

Huffington Post

One of the male focus group participants said, "Research is used to find out the infections that are worrying people which ordinarily cannot be seen except through research".

BMC Medical Ethics

(Like Spielberg's villain, Rusty Nail is plugged so securely into the cockpit of his vehicle that he cannot be seen even darkly through the glass).

The New Yorker

Light micrographs of B. braunii and methylene blue-stained E. coli were acquired by using a Nikon Eclipse 80i microscope (E. coli cannot be seen without staining through a microscope).

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be seen through" to describe both physical opacity and conceptual obscurity. For example, a material might not be physically transparent, or a motive might be difficult to understand.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be seen through" excessively in abstract contexts where simpler phrases like "cannot be understood" or "is not clear" would be more appropriate. Choose the phrasing that best fits the specific nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be seen through" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a lack of physical transparency or, more abstractly, a lack of clarity or understanding. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in both literal and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3.33%

Encyclopedias

3.33%

Reference

3.33%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be seen through" is a versatile phrase used to describe both physical opacity and abstract obscurity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in various contexts. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, indicating a neutral register. When writing, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey and choose between alternatives like "is opaque", "is not transparent", or "is incomprehensible" depending on whether you are describing a physical property or a conceptual difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is opaque

Emphasizes the quality of blocking light or understanding.

is not transparent

Directly addresses the lack of physical transparency.

is indiscernible

Highlights the difficulty in distinguishing or recognizing something.

is imperceptible

Focuses on the idea that something is impossible to perceive.

is not visible

Simply states that something cannot be seen.

is undetectable

Focuses on the inability to detect something, not just visually.

remains hidden

Suggests that something is deliberately concealed.

is veiled

Implies that something is covered or obscured.

is incomprehensible

Shifts the focus to a lack of understanding rather than physical sight.

is not understandable

Expresses the impossibility of understanding something

FAQs

What does "cannot be seen through" mean?

It means something is not transparent or easily understood, either literally or figuratively.

When should I use "cannot be seen through"?

Use it when you want to emphasize a lack of transparency or clarity, whether physical or conceptual. For example, "The glass was so dirty it "is opaque"" or "His intentions "remains hidden"".

What are some alternatives to "cannot be seen through"?

Alternatives include "is not transparent", "is opaque", "is indiscernible", or "is incomprehensible", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "cannot be seen through" in a figurative sense?

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to use it figuratively to describe something that is difficult to understand or perceive, such as a hidden motive or a complex situation.