To figure on is a phrasal verb that has several nuanced meanings. It is generally defined as "to expect or consider someone or something as part of a plan, calculation, or future action." It signifies the act of including someone or something as a factor in a particular situation or decision-making process.
One interpretation of "to figure on" is relying on or counting on someone or something to be present or involved in a given circumstance. For instance, a manager might say, "I figure on John's expertise to complete the project successfully." Here, the manager expects and relies on John's expertise for the project's success.
The phrase can also imply taking into account or considering someone or something as part of a plan or calculation. For example, a financial analyst might state, "We need to figure on inflation when projecting next year's earnings." In this case, the analyst suggests that inflation should be taken into consideration during the calculation of future earnings.
Moreover, "to figure on" can express the estimation or expectation of a certain outcome or result. For instance, a coach might say, "We didn't figure on the opposing team's strong offense." Here, the coach implies that they did not anticipate or expect the opposing team to have a powerful offense.
Overall, "to figure on" encompasses the notions of reliance, consideration, and expectation when incorporating someone or something into a plan, calculation, or projection.
