Meaning of "Think up a new idea"

[Kenny]

Test No. incompl/advan-6 "Phrasal Verbs", question 4

What you have to do is to ......... a new idea that will enable us to make a lot of money.

(a) think over
(b) think out
(c) think about
(d) think up

Test No. incompl/advan-6 "Phrasal Verbs", answer 4

What you have to do is to think up a new idea that will enable us to make a lot of money.

Correct answer: (d) think up

Your answer was: incorrect
What you have to do is to think over a new idea that will enable us to make a lot of money.
_________________________

What does this expression mean?

Ken

[Alan]

This means try hard to imagine something new whereas think over means consider or reflect on.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Saying It Twice

[Kenshin]

Cheers

[Haihao]

Hi,

I could feel 'think out' inferior to 'think up' here, but I didn't know why. I thought 'think out' could mean 'design' or something as well. Is it because 'think up a new idea' is more natural in 'soundling' but not necessarily in meaning?

haiaho

[Alan]

Hi,

'Think up' in this sentence clearly strikes the right note having the sense of imagining or creating in your mind a new concept. 'Think out' has very much the sense of considering something fully together with connected implications and is close to the idea of 'think through'.

A
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Phrasal Verbs/run