Idiom: figure out

[neoteric]

I'd like to know the usage of the idiom 'figure out.' In the following two example sentences, could you tell me which is correct? 1) You need to figure out what exactly you want to do. or You need to figure it out what excatly you want to do. 2) I can't figure out what his problem is. or I can't figure it out what his problem is.

[ravenhair]

In each of your examples, "it" should not be used. This is because "figure out" is a transitive verb, ie it takes an object. In your first example, "what exactly you want to do" is the object of the verb, ie is on the receiving end, if you like, of the verb. In the second example, "what his problem is" is the object. If you use "figure it out", it is the object of "figure out" and therefore you cannot have a second object. Still with me? In short, then, you can say "I can't figure it out" (object = it) or "I can't figure out what ... " (object = what...) but not both. I hope I've explained myself clearly and not just rambled on at length.

[WendyW]

Hey wildwood I wish I could figure out ... how to put figure out ... in bold.