INDEX:
to know something
1. to know a fact or piece of information
2. to know a place, a film, a book etc
3. to know a lot about something
4. someone who knows a lot about something
5. knowing a lot about something
6. to know something so well you can repeat it from memory
7. to know a little about something
8. to know something that most people do not know
9. when most people know something
10. facts and information that you know
11. to feel sure something is true even though you have no proof
to not know something
12. to not know a fact or piece of information
13. to not know a place, film or book etc
14. to not realize what is happening
15. to not know anything about a subject
16. to not know about something that other people know
17. to not know the most recent information about something
18. ways of saying that no one knows something
19. not knowing about something
20. something that people know nothing or very little about
21. a person or place that not many people know or know about
to know a person
22. to know someone
23. to start to know someone
24. someone you know, but not very well
25. someone you do not know
RELATED WORDS
know how to do something : ↑ CAN/CAN'T
see also
↑ INSTINCT
↑ REALIZE
↑ UNDERSTAND/NOT UNDERSTAND
↑ PREDICT
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1. to know a fact or piece of information
▷ know /nəʊ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to know a fact or piece of information :
▪ I love this painting - do you know the name of the artist?
▪ Jack’s leaving. Didn’t you know?
know (that)
▪ I knew he was ill, but I didn’t realize he had cancer.
know how/what/where etc
▪ Do you know where Andy is?
know about
▪ How much do you know about the Moore case?
know of
▪ I know of one company where members of staff get their meals free.
know a lot about
▪ He knew a lot about baseball, and about how to pick great players.
▷ realize also realise British /ˈrɪəlaɪz/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to know that a situation exists, and especially to know how important or serious it is :
▪ None of us realized the danger we were in.
▪ ‘She’s been promoted to chief executive.’ ‘Oh, really? I didn’t realize.’
realize (that)
▪ I realize that you are very busy, but could I talk to you for a few minutes?
realize how/what/why
▪ Even Horton’s family hadn’t realized how sick he was, both physically and emotionally.
▷ be/become aware /biː, bɪˌkʌm əˈweəʳ/ [verb phrase] formal
to know or begin to realize that a situation exists, often a serious one :
be/become aware of
▪ I am aware of the risks involved in the project, but I am willing to take them.
▪ Children become aware of rules during this stage of development.
be/become aware (that)
▪ The question is, was the Chief of Police aware that so much corruption existed within the police department?
well/acutely/keenly aware
used to emphasize that someone definitely knows something
▪ There were signs everywhere - the two men must have been well aware that they were hunting out of season.
painfully aware
aware of something that upsets you
▪ Abbey was always painfully aware that she was not as pretty as her sister.
▷ can tell /kən ˈtel/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
to know that something is true because you can see signs that show this :
▪ She’s going to have a baby - couldn’t you tell?
can tell (that)
▪ I could tell he worked outdoors, because he had a deep tan.
can tell by/from
▪ You can tell by the look on her face that she’s hiding something.
can tell whether/what/how etc
▪ You can tell when kids aren’t feeling well.
▪ I couldn’t tell exactly how old he was.
from what I can tell...
▪ Don’t worry. From what I can tell, you’ll make a great father.
▷ appreciate /əˈpriːʃieɪt/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to understand how serious a situation or problem is :
▪ I wonder if he really appreciates the seriousness of the situation.
appreciate how/what/why
▪ Changes were taking place, though at the time no one fully appreciated how far-reaching these changes were to be.
appreciate (that)
▪ I appreciate that some of you have had to wait all night, and I thank you for your patience.
▷ be conscious /biː ˈkɒnʃəsǁ-ˈkɑːn-/ [verb phrase]
to know that a particular situation exists and to have it in your mind continuously :
be conscious of
▪ I was very conscious of the fact that this was an important meeting and that I had to make a good impression.
▪ As oil prices rose, countries in the West suddenly became conscious of fuel efficiency.
be conscious (that)
▪ He was conscious that she was staring at him as he spoke.
▷ know perfectly well /nəʊ ˌpɜːʳfɪktli ˈwel/ [verb phrase not in progressive] spoken
use this to say that someone knows something, although they behave as if they do not :
know perfectly well (that)
▪ He knows perfectly well, he’s not allowed to park outside the main door.
▪ I knew perfectly well that I had anorexia, but I wouldn’t admit that it was a problem.
know perfectly well what/why/who etc
▪ You know perfectly well what I mean, so stop pretending you don’t.
▷ know/learn from experience /ˌnəʊ, ˌlɜːʳn frəm ɪkˈspɪ ə riəns/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to know what is likely to happen in a particular situation, because you have learned from your own experiences :
know/learn from experience (that)
▪ He knew from experience that most ship’s captains were not adequately covered with life insurance.
know from past/personal/first-hand etc experience
▪ Kelly knew from personal experience that education is a ticket out of minimum-wage work.
know from bitter experience
know something because of a bad experience of something similar
▪ Sue learned from bitter experience not to rely on Martin in times of crisis.
2. to know a place, a film, a book etc
▷ know /nəʊ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if you know a place, you have been there before and spent time there; if you know a book, song, film etc, you have read it or seen it or heard it before :
▪ ‘Do you know Boston at all?’ ‘Yes, I went to college there.’
▪ I didn’t know any of the songs they were singing.
▪ Do you know that Hitchcock movie about a man who is being chased?
know something by heart
know every word of a song, poem etc without having to read it
▪ The congregation seemed to know all the hymns by heart.
know somewhere like the back of your hand
informal know a place very well
▪ Tony had spent a lot of time in Tokyo and knew the place like the back of his hand.
▷ be familiar with /biː fəˈmɪliəʳ wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to know a thing or place well because you have seen it, read it, used it, or been there :
▪ Are you familiar with this type of software?
▪ I grew up near Lake George, so I’m very familiar with the towns around there.
▪ Are you familiar with the works of George Eliot?
▷ be acquainted with /biː əˈkweɪntə̇d wɪð/ [verb phrase] formal
to know something :
▪ I was not acquainted with the north-western part of the island.
▪ Through art, children become acquainted with cultures other than their own.
be fully acquainted with
▪ All our employees are fully acquainted with the safety procedures.
3. to know a lot about something
▷ know (all) about /ˌnəʊ (ɔːl) əˈbaʊt/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
▪ My brother knows about cars. I’m sure he could fix it for you.
▪ You can’t become an architect unless you know all about building regulations.
know a lot about something
▪ The old man knew a lot about the history of the village.
know all there is to know about something
to know everything about a particular subject
▪ I thought I knew all there was to know about men, until I met Jason.
▷ knowledgeable /ˈnɒlɪdʒəb ə lǁˈnɑː-/ [adjective]
knowing a lot of facts about a particular subject, especially about something that not many people know about :
▪ The sales staff are all knowledgeable, helpful, and cheerful.
knowledgeable about/in
▪ We are looking for people who are knowledgeable about the oil and banking industries.
▪ Earley is a diligent reporter, knowledgeable in the field of espionage.
▷ be well versed in /biː ˌwel ˈvɜːʳst ɪn/ [verb phrase]
to know a lot about a particular subject because you have had a lot of experience of it :
▪ The new prime minister is well versed in economic policy.
▪ Victor Amadeus was reputed to be well versed in poisons and their antidotes.
▷ know something inside (and) out /ˌnəʊ something ˌɪnsaɪd (ənd) ˈaʊt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
to know a particular subject very thoroughly :
▪ She’s very experienced -- she knows the advertising business inside out.
▪ You need to know your specialized subject inside and out.
▷ be clued up /biː ˌkluːd ˈʌp/ [verb phrase] British informal
to know all the facts that you need to know about a subject, especially because you have found it out before you start doing something :
be clued up on
▪ Are you clued up on what points to look for when buying a used car?
be clued up about
▪ We’d better get clued up about this new computer system before we start using it.
▷ specialize in also specialise British /ˈspeʃ ə laɪz ɪn/ [transitive verb]
to know a lot about one particular subject or activity because you study it or do it more than any other :
▪ My history professor specialized in Russian history.
▪ The chef specializes in Hunan and Szechuan cuisine, but all the dishes we tried were delicious.
▷ know what you are talking about /ˌnəʊ wɒt juː ɑːʳ ˈtɔːkɪŋ əbaʊt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
to know a lot about a particular subject so that your judgement can be trusted, especially because you have had a lot of experience :
▪ Pilger knows what he is talking about, having spent several years as a reporter in Vietnam.
▪ Rolim seemed to know what he was talking about, but his theories raised some questions for me.
▷ know your stuff /ˌnəʊ jɔːʳ ˈstʌf/ [verb phrase not in progressive or passive] informal
to know a lot about something, especially about how to do your job, in a way that other people think is impressive :
▪ To pass that test the kids really have to know their stuff.
▪ The doctor who came in looked very young. I was just hoping she knew her stuff.
4. someone who knows a lot about something
▷ expert /ˈekspɜːʳt/ [countable noun]
someone who know a lot about a subject :
▪ The team of experts includes psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.
expert in/on
▪ an expert in French history
▪ A draft of the document was reviewed by experts on hospital infection control.
medical/legal/financial etc expert
▪ Legal experts are saying that the man’s conviction was unlawful.
▷ specialist /ˈspeʃ ə lɪst, ˈspeʃ ə ləst/ [countable noun]
someone who has studied a particular subject for a long time and knows much more about it than other people :
▪ You really need a specialist for this job.
specialist in
▪ Professor Williams teaches English Literature and is a specialist in the novels of George Orwell.
computer/marketing/engine etc specialist
▪ The Health Department is seeking the advice of a team of tropical disease specialists.
▷ authority /ɔːˈθɒrɪti, ɔːˈθɒrəti, ə-ǁəˈθɑː-, əˈθɔː-/ [countable noun usually singular]
someone whose knowledge and opinions on a particular subject are greatly respected :
authority on
▪ Reischauer became an authority on Japanese-American relations.
▪ She was widely regarded as the country’s leading authority on plant diseases.
▷ pundit /ˈpʌndɪt, ˈpʌndət/ [countable noun]
someone who knows a lot about a subject, especially politics or economics, and who is asked to give their opinion about it on television, in newspapers etc :
▪ If the pundits are right, the economic situation may become worse before the end of the year.
▪ Hollywood pundits predicted the movie would grab the top spot in the ratings, but they were wrong.
▷ buff /bʌf/ [countable noun]
someone who knows a lot about a particular activity or subject because they are very interested in it :
film/jazz/computer etc buff
▪ ‘How many films did Hitchcock make?’ ‘Ask Paul, -- he’s a great film buff.’
▪ The market for magazines for computer buffs is growing all the time.
▷ connoisseur /ˌkɒnəˈsɜːʳǁˌkɑː-/ [countable noun]
someone who has great knowledge and experience of something such as art, furniture, food, or wine so that they can recognize what is the best :
▪ The golden chanterelle, as it is commonly known, is a favorite among mushroom connoisseurs.
connoisseur of
▪ Lord Burlington was a great collector and connoisseur of paintings.
▷ boffin /ˈbɒfɪn, ˈbɒfənǁˈbɑː-/ [countable noun] informal British
someone who knows a lot about a particular subject, especially a scientific or technical subject :
▪ A few science boffins were asked for their opinions, but otherwise the article gave very little information.
5. knowing a lot about something
▷ knowledgeable /ˈnɒlɪdʒəb ə lǁˈnɑː-/ [adjective]
someone who is knowledgeable knows a lot of different facts, especially about a particular subject or activity :
▪ Visitors should use reputable travel firms with knowledgeable guides, and avoid camping alone.
knowledgeable about/in
▪ Gradually the band became more knowledgeable about the business dealings in the music industry.
▷ well-informed /ˌwel ɪnˈfɔːʳmd◂/ [adjective]
knowing a lot about what is happening, especially about what is happening in the world :
▪ "Le Monde' is a newspaper designed for well-informed readers.
▪ According to one well-informed source, the two sides are very near to reaching an agreement.
well-informed about
▪ Abdul Karim was particularly well- informed about American politics.
▷ be a mine of information /biː ə ˌmaɪn əv ɪnfəʳˈmeɪʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
to know a lot about a particular subject or about various subjects, so that you are usually able to answer anything that people ask you :
▪ The British Ambassador proved to be a mine of information on the subject of the Royal Family.
▷ be well up on British /be up on American /biː ˌwel ˈʌp ɒn, biː ˈʌp ɒn/ [verb phrase] spoken
to know a lot about something, including the most recent information :
▪ How well up are you on men’s fashion?
▪ Don’t ask me - I’m not really up on current events in that part of the world.
▷ have your finger on the pulse /hæv jɔːʳ ˌfɪŋgər ɒn ðə ˈpʌls/ [verb phrase not in progressive or passive]
to always know what changes and developments are happening in a particular situation or organization :
have your finger on the pulse of
▪ As a manager of a bookshop, I have to have my finger on the pulse of the publishing industry.
▷ keep abreast of/keep up to date with /kiːp əˈbrest ɒv, ˌkiːp ʌp tə ˈdeɪt wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to make sure that you know all the most recent news about what is happening somewhere or about new developments in a particular subject :
▪ When we lived abroad, we always kept abreast of what was happening at home.
▪ It’s very important for students to keep up to date with developments in their own field of study.
6. to know something so well you can repeat it from memory
▷ know something by heart also know something off by heart British /ˌnəʊ something baɪ ˈhɑːʳt, ˌnəʊ something ɒf baɪ ˈhɑːʳt/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to know every word of a poem, story, song etc, that you have learned so that you can say it or sing it without making any mistakes :
▪ Eleanor had heard the story so many times that she knew every word of it by heart.
▪ I studied the poem until I knew it off by heart.
▷ have something off pat British /have something down pat American /ˌhæv something ɒf ˈpæt, ˌhæv something daʊn ˈpæt/ [verb phrase not in progressive or passive]
to be able to give a speech or an answer immediately and easily because you have learned it thoroughly or because you have said the same thing a lot of times before :
▪ She only had to repeat the lines once or twice, and she’d have them down pat.
▪ Like most politicians he had all his answers off pat, but he didn’t have anything particularly new or interesting to say.
▷ word perfect /ˌwɜːʳd ˈpɜːʳfɪkt/ [adjective]
able to repeat something from memory in exactly the same way as it was said or written :
▪ Each Monday the teacher made us recite a poem which had to be word perfect .
7. to know a little about something
▷ know a little (bit) about also know a bit about especially British /ˌnəʊ ə ˈlɪtl (bɪt) əbaʊt, ˌnəʊ ə ˈbɪt əbaʊt/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
▪ This excellent book can be understood by anyone who knows a little about social anthropology.
▪ I know a bit about how psychiatry works, having been in therapy for years.
▷ have a smattering of /ˌhæv ə ˈsmæt ə rɪŋ ɒv/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to have only a small amount of knowledge about a subject, especially of a foreign language :
▪ He only has a smattering of English, so it can be quite difficult trying to communicate with him.
▪ I left school with no more than a smattering of scientific knowledge.
▷ have a working knowledge of /hæv ə ˌwɜːʳkɪŋ ˈnɒlɪdʒ ɒvǁ-ˈnɑː-/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to have enough knowledge of something such as a system or a foreign language to be able to use it, although your knowledge is limited :
▪ You don’t need to be an expert, but we do expect you to have a good working knowledge of computers.
▪ For the system to work, mediators must have a working knowledge of the law.
▷ can get by/be able to get by /kən ˌget ˈbaɪ, biː ˌeɪb ə l tə get ˈbaɪ/ [verb phrase] spoken
to know just enough about something, for example a foreign language, to be able to make yourself understood or do something successfully :
▪ My Spanish isn’t great, but I can get by as a tourist.
can get by/be able to get by on/with
▪ ‘Can I still pass the course?’ ‘You may be able to get by on what you’ve already read.’
8. to know something that most people do not know
▷ be in the know /biː ɪn ðə ˈnəʊ/ [verb phrase]
to know secret information about something, for example a government plan or someone’s private life, that only a small group of people know :
▪ I heard it from someone who’s in the know, so it must be true.
▪ Those who were in the know bought land where the railway was to be built, and made enormous profits.
▪ The people in the know are saying that the team doesn’t have enough money to keep Wojek for another season.
▷ be in on /biː ˈɪn ɒn/ [verb phrase] informal
to know about a secret plan or activity that only a small group of people know about, especially when you are involved in it :
▪ The children are planning a surprise for Grandma. Are you in on this?
▪ It turned out that some of the local cops were in on the deal too.
let somebody in on something
tell them about a secret
▪ We made the mistake of letting my sister in on the plan, and she, of course, told my parents.
▷ be privy to /bi ˈprɪvi tuː/ [verb phrase] especially written
to know about something that is kept a secret from most people, especially because someone trusts you enough to tell you about it :
▪ She became a confidante of Churchill, and thus was privy to some of his thinking.
▪ The Division was not privy to all the information being collected in Saigon.
▷ knowing /ˈnəʊɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
knowing look/smile/wink etc
a look, smile etc that shows that you know something that other people do not know or that you share a secret with someone :
▪ I saw him give her a knowing smile as she left the room.
▪ Her questions and knowing looks unnerved him, almost as if she had figured him out.
9. when most people know something
▷ everyone knows /ˌevriwʌn ˈnəʊz/ especially spoken
say this when you think most people know something and you would be surprised if someone did not know it :
▪ Haven’t you heard Anja’s pregnant? I thought everyone knew.
everyone knows (that)
▪ Everyone knows that for a democracy to truly work, everyone has to get involved in some way.
everyone knows how/what/why etc
▪ Surely everyone knows how to change a light bulb!
▷ well known /ˌwel ˈnəʊn/ [adverb]
use this about facts and ideas that most people know about, or that all the people in a particular group know about :
▪ Her views on the single European currency were well known.
it is well known that
▪ It is well known that people who smoke are more likely to get lung diseases.
▪ It was well known that Mr. Walters was interested in our mother.
▷ be common knowledge /biː ˌkɒmən ˈnɒlɪdʒǁ-ˌkɑːmən ˈnɑː-/ [verb phrase]
if information about someone is common knowledge, a lot of people know about it, even when that person would prefer to keep it a secret :
▪ It’s common knowledge here in Miami that this whole operation was paid for with cocaine money.
be common knowledge that
▪ It’s already common knowledge that their marriage is breaking up.
▷ be no secret /biː nəʊ ˈsiːkrə̇t/ [verb phrase]
if an unpleasant fact is no secret, everyone knows about it :
▪ Everyone knows they hate each other, it’s no secret.
be no secret that
▪ It was no secret that Morrison was with the CIA, but nobody knew exactly what he did.
▷ be an open secret /biː ən ˌəʊpən ˈsiːkrə̇t/ [verb phrase]
if something is an open secret, it is supposed to be secret but most people know about it :
▪ Her relationship with a French millionaire is pretty much an open secret around here.
be an open secret that
▪ It’s an open secret that organized crime has been financing films here for years.
▷ freedom of information /ˌfriːdəm əv ˌɪnfəʳˈmeɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
when a government allows people to know what is in official government records, documents etc :
▪ Freedom of information should be a basic right in a democracy.
10. facts and information that you know
▷ knowledge /ˈnɒlɪdʒǁˈnɑː-/ [singular/uncountable noun]
facts and information that you know :
▪ He doesn’t have the skills or knowledge needed to do the job.
knowledge of
▪ My knowledge of Japanese is limited to a few phrases.
scientific/medical/technical etc knowledge
▪ Our assumptions are based on current scientific knowledge.
▷ expertise /ˌekspɜːʳˈtiːz/ [uncountable noun]
special knowledge about how to do something, gained through study or practical experience :
▪ The technical expertise was provided by a Japanese company.
▪ His expertise will be invaluable to understanding technological challenges the BBC is facing.
expertise in
▪ The organisation has employees with expertise in both medical and counselling services.
▷ know-how /ˈnəʊ haʊ/ [uncountable noun]
practical knowledge about how to do something :
▪ There was a lack of managerial and technical know-how in the steel industry.
▪ The US supplied the machinery, the know-how, and most of the capital.
11. to feel sure something is true even though you have no proof
▷ feel /fiːl/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
▪ I felt a definite sense of danger and impending disaster.
feel (that)
▪ I always felt I had the ability to become a reasonable actor.
▪ It is a common experience to feel that an author writes well without being able to say exactly why.
▷ sense /sens/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to feel that something is present or is happening where you are although you cannot see or hear anything to prove it :
▪ We could sense an unwelcoming atmosphere.
▪ I wasn’t that thrilled with her performance, and I’m sure she sensed it.
sense (that)
▪ After a while, I sensed that he was no longer listening.
▷ know /nəʊ/ [intransitive/transitive verb not in progressive]
to feel very strongly that something is true :
▪ Everyone knew immediately how serious the situation was.
know (that)
▪ I knew that this was going to happen.
▪ I know damn well she won’t keep her promise.
just know
▪ I knew it was a huge gamble, buying the stuff without seeing it, but I just knew it would be good quality.
▷ have a feeling/get the feeling /ˌhæv ə ˈfiːlɪŋ, ˌget ðə ˈfiːlɪŋ/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to feel almost sure that something is true, although you have no proof :
have a feeling/get the feeling (that)
▪ As we walked along together, I had a feeling that we were both thinking the same thing.
▪ Maybe we should leave him alone. I have a feeling he doesn’t want us here.
▷ be aware/conscious /biː əˈweəʳ, ˈkɒnʃəsǁ-ˈkɑːn-/ [verb phrase]
to know how someone is feeling or how a situation is changing although there are no clear signs to prove it, especially in a way that worries you :
be aware/conscious of
▪ Charles was uncomfortably aware of the woman’s silent contempt for him.
be aware/conscious that
▪ Slowly, she became conscious that there was some connection between the man and the girl.
12. to not know a fact or piece of information
▷ not know /nɒt ˈnəʊ/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
▪ ‘What time’s the next train to Paris?’ ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know.’
▪ I wish I could tell you the name of the restaurant but I honestly don’t know it.
not know anything about
▪ These days, record companies are usually owned by people who don’t know anything about music.
not know how/what/why etc
▪ I don’t know why it is so difficult to explain the concept to people.
▪ No one knows if there really is a Loch Ness monster, or if it’s just a myth.
not know (that)
▪ My mother never knew that they’d called the police out that night.
▷ have no idea/not have a clue /hæv ˌnəʊ aɪˈdɪə, nɒt hæv ə ˈkluː/ [verb phrase not in progressive] especially spoken
say this when you know nothing at all about the answer to a question, so that you cannot even guess what it might be :
▪ ‘How much is this painting worth?’ ‘I’m sorry, I’ve no idea.’
▪ When I asked where Louise had gone, he said he didn’t have a clue.
have no idea/not have a clue what/how/who etc
▪ That guy obviously doesn’t have a clue how to put a Web page together.
▪ I fell asleep half way through the film, and I have absolutely no idea how it ended.
▷ not have the faintest/slightest/foggiest idea also not have the least idea British /nɒt hæv ðə ˌfeɪntə̇st, ˌslaɪtə̇st, ˌfɒgiə̇st aɪˈdɪəǁ-ˌfɑːg-, nɒt hæv ðə ˌliːst aɪˈdɪə/ [verb phrase not in progressive] spoken
say this when you want to say very strongly that you know nothing at all :
▪ ‘Do you know where he was going after he left here?’ ‘I don’t have the slightest idea.’
not have the faintest/slightest/foggiest idea what/how/where etc
▪ I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about -- can you explain please?
▪ Nobody at that time had the slightest idea about how caffeine affected the body.
not have the faintest/slightest/foggiest idea about
▪ They didn’t have the least idea about how to put up a tent.
▷ (it) beats me /(ɪt) ˌbiːts ˈmiː/ spoken
say this when you do not know and cannot understand why something happens :
▪ ‘What I can’t understand is why they make you wait three months just to give you a stamp on your passport.’ ‘Beats me too.’
(it) beats me how/why etc
▪ It beats me how these kids can afford to spend so much money on clothes and CDs.
▷ don’t ask me/how should I know? /ˌdəʊnt ɑːsk ˈmiːǁ-æsk-, ˌhaʊ ʃʊd ˈaɪ nəʊ/ spoken informal
say this when it is impossible for you to know the answer to a question, especially when you are annoyed or surprised that someone has asked you :
▪ ‘Why is Sharon in such a bad mood?’ ‘How should I know - she never tells me anything.’
▪ ‘We figured we could pay about $200 a week, right?’ ‘Don’t ask me! I wasn’t in on the conversation.’
▷ who knows? /ˌhuː ˈnəʊz/ spoken
say this when you think it is impossible for anyone to know the answer to a question :
▪ The world might end tomorrow. Who knows?
▷ I give up /aɪ ˌgɪv ˈʌp/ spoken
say this when you do not know the answer to a difficult question or a joke, and you want someone to tell you :
▪ ‘Guess who’s coming to dinner tonight?’ ‘I give up. Tell me.’
▪ ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ ‘I give up, why did the chicken cross the road?’
13. to not know a place, film or book etc
▷ not know /nɒt ˈnəʊ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
▷ not be familiar with/be unfamiliar with /nɒt biː fəˈmɪliəʳ wɪð, biː ˌʌnfəˈmɪliəʳ wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to know little or nothing about a subject, book, play etc because you have not studied it, read it, or seen it :
▪ I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Professor Vaughan’s work.
▪ For those of you who may not be familiar with the play I’ll give a brief summary of the plot.
▪ It is difficult for anyone unfamiliar with astronomy to grasp the concept of the Black Hole.
▷ unfamiliar /ˌʌnfəˈmɪliəʳ◂/ [adjective]
if someone or something is unfamiliar to you, you do not know them because you have never seen, heard, or experienced them before :
▪ The voice on the phone sounded unfamiliar.
▪ It took Steven some time to get used to his unfamiliar surroundings.
unfamiliar to
▪ The song is in Russian, a language unfamiliar to many singers.
14. to not realize what is happening
▷ not know/not realize/have no idea /nɒt ˈnəʊ, nɒt ˈrɪəlaɪz, hæv ˌnəʊ aɪˈdɪə/ [verb phrase]
▪ ‘It’s my birthday today.’ ‘Oh, I didn’t realize. I should have bought you a card.’
not know/not realize/have no idea (that)
▪ I wish I’d brought my coat. I didn’t know it would be so cold.
▪ We didn’t realize that he had quit, until he didn’t show up at work that day.
not know/not realize/have no idea what/how/where etc
▪ My wife and I had no idea how much we would depend upon Social Security in the future.
▷ be unaware/not be aware /biː ˌʌnəˈweəʳ, nɒt biː əˈweəʳ/ [verb phrase] formal
to not know about a situation or about something that is happening, especially when you should know about it :
be unaware/not be aware of
▪ The child was clearly unaware of the danger.
▪ If any bad feelings existed between the two of them, I was not aware of it.
be unaware/not be aware that
▪ His parents weren’t even aware that he smoked.
▷ have no knowledge of /hæv ˌnəʊ ˈnɒlɪdʒ ɒvǁ-ˈnɑː-/ [verb phrase not in progressive] formal
to know nothing about a subject or situation because you have not experienced it, read about it, or heard about it :
▪ The general public has little or no knowledge of what is happening inside prisons.
▪ The State Department said it had no knowledge of any threats to U.S. security.
▷ unbeknown to somebody also unbeknownst to somebody /ˌʌnbɪˈnəʊn tə somebody, ˌʌnbɪˈnəʊnst tə somebody/ [adverb]
use this about something that was happening without you knowing about it at the time :
▪ Unbeknown to me, Denise had her own plan.
▪ Unbeknownst to the public, he was involved in covering up the scandal that was to rock the nation.
▷ little did I/she/he etc know /ˌlɪtl dɪd aɪ ˈnəʊ/ [adverb]
use this when you did not know or imagine that something was true or would happen :
little did I/she/he etc know that
▪ Little did she know that this picture would one day be worth more than a million dollars.
▪ Little did I know then that I would be working in Los Angeles 35 years later.
▷ for all I/you/they etc know /fər ɔːl ˈaɪ ˌnəʊ/ spoken
say this when you know almost nothing about a situation and to suggest something that might have happened or be true, especially something unlikely :
▪ They may have gone to South America, for all we know.
▪ You shouldn’t have accepted a ride from him. For all you knew he might have been a mass murderer.
▷ be unconscious of /biː ʌnˈkɒnʃəs ɒvǁ-ˈkɑːn-/ [verb phrase]
if you are unconscious of the effect of something that you have said or done, you do not realize how it affects other people :
▪ She appeared to be unconscious of the amusement she had caused by her remarks.
▪ Like many tourists they were unconscious of the fact that they had deeply offended their hosts.
▷ oblivious /əˈblɪviəs/ [adjective]
someone who is oblivious to what is happening around them does not notice it and continues to do other things without being affected by it :
oblivious of
▪ They soon fell asleep, oblivious of the danger.
oblivious to
▪ The walkers in front crossed the ledge easily, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was a 3000 foot drop on either side.
▪ In the sitcom she plays a New York executive who’s totally oblivious to the feelings of others.
15. to not know anything about a subject
▷ not know anything/know nothing /nɒt nəʊ ˈeniθɪŋ, nəʊ ˈnʌθɪŋ/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
▪ Don’t ask me. I know nothing at all about fixing cars.
▪ No one else at school knew anything about jazz.
know nothing of
formal
▪ When he arrived in Venice he knew almost nothing of its history or culture.
▷ have no idea/not have a clue /hæv ˌnəʊ aɪˈdɪə, nɒt hæv ə ˈkluː/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
to know nothing at all about how to do something :
▪ I’m amazed how he puts all the bits of the computer back together. I wouldn’t have a clue.
have no idea/not have a clue about
▪ After nine years of marriage, he still didn’t have a clue about what she really wanted.
have no idea/not have a clue how/what/where etc
▪ It became clear that the sales people didn’t have any idea how to sell the new products.
▷ be a closed book /biː ə ˌkləʊzd ˈbʊk/ [verb phrase] British
a subject that is a closed book to someone is one that they know nothing about, and that they believe they will never understand :
▪ For many people, science is something of a closed book.
16. to not know about something that other people know
▷ be in the dark /biː ɪn ðə ˈdɑːʳk/ [verb phrase]
if you are in the dark about something, especially something important, you have not been told about it because other people want to keep it secret :
▪ We have no idea why he’s been arrested. We’re still completely in the dark.
be in the dark about
▪ Most board members were kept in the dark about this important financial information.
▪ We’re being kept in the dark about the dangers of food additives by the big food manufacturers.
▷ not be in on /nɒt biː ˈɪn ɒn/ [verb phrase] informal
if you are not in on a secret plan, you have not been told about it and are not involved in it :
▪ They weren’t in on the robbery -- only me and my brother knew about it.
17. to not know the most recent information about something
▷ be out of touch /biː ˌaʊt əv ˈtʌtʃ/ [verb phrase]
someone who is out of touch with something used to know about it but does not now know the most recent information about it, because they have not read about it or been involved in it for a long time :
▪ I don’t know what kind of music kids listen to these days -- I’m really out of touch.
be out of touch with
▪ The press accused MacGregor of being out of touch with the campaign he was supposed to be running.
▷ lose touch /ˌluːz ˈtʌtʃ/ [verb phrase]
if you lose touch with a situation or a subject, you no longer know the latest information about it and are unable to understand what is happening in it :
▪ I must do some teaching again -- I’m worried about losing touch.
lose touch with
▪ The French President has lost touch with the reality of the political situation in France.
▪ When you’re living abroad, it’s easy to lose touch with what’s going on back home.
▷ lose track of /ˌluːz ˈtræk ɒv/ [verb phrase]
if you lose track of something or someone, you no longer know where they are or what has happened to them :
▪ I had the file on my desk a minute ago, but I seem to have lost track of it.
▪ After the war they lost track of each other.
▪ They fed us every twelve hours, but when you can’t see the sun, you lose track of time.
▷ not be up on /nɒt biː ˈʌp ɒn/ [verb phrase] informal
if you are not up on the latest fashions, music, or news, you do not know about them :
▪ I spend most of my time in the woods of Wyoming these days, so I’m not really up on all the latest fashions and movies.
▪ My dad’s not really up on what kids think these days.
18. ways of saying that no one knows something
▷ who knows/who can say /huː ˈnəʊz, ˌhuː kən ˈseɪ/:
▪ Maybe the world will end tomorrow. Who can say?
▪ He might come back and say he still loves me, who knows? Who cares?
who knows/who can say what/where/why etc
▪ Who knows whether Mimi ever made it to Paris.
▷ God knows/heaven knows /ˌgɒd ˈnəʊzǁˌgɑːd-, ˌhev ə n ˈnəʊz/ spoken
say this when you mean that it is impossible to know something :
▪ ‘Where’d she go?’ ‘God knows.’
God knows/heaven knows what/who/why etc
▪ I’ve just missed my train, so God knows what time I’ll get home now.
▪ Heaven knows why she feels she can’t trust her own parents.
▷ it’s anybody’s guess /ɪts ˈenibɒdiz ˌgesǁ-bɑː-/ spoken
say this when neither you, nor anyone else knows the answer to a question or the truth about something, and any answer could be correct :
▪ How he’d lived through it all is anybody’s guess.
it’s anybody’s guess who/what/why etc
▪ It’s anybody’s guess who will come out on top when the winners are announced at the Grammy Awards this year.
▷ there’s no telling/knowing /ðeəʳz ˌnəʊ ˈtelɪŋ, ˈnəʊɪŋ/ spoken
say this when it is impossible to know what will happen, especially when you are worried that something bad might happen :
there’s no telling/knowing who/what/why etc
▪ ‘He’s a desperate man. There’s no telling what he’ll do next,’ said Holmes.
▪ There was no knowing when the flood waters might recede with so much rain in the forecast.
▷ your guess is as good as mine /ˌjɔːʳ ges ɪz əz ˌgʊd əz ˈmaɪn/ spoken
say this when someone asks you a question and you do not know the answer, so that they are just as likely to guess the right answer as you are :
▪ ‘Who do you think will win the World Cup?’ ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’
19. not knowing about something
▷ ignorant /ˈɪgnərənt/ [adjective]
someone who is ignorant does not know facts or information that they should know :
▪ I didn’t like to ask him to explain more clearly because I didn’t want to appear ignorant.
ignorant of
▪ There are still doctors who are ignorant of patients’ rights, or who try to deny them.
ignorant about
▪ I’m very ignorant about politics.
▷ ignorance /ˈɪgnərəns/ [uncountable noun]
when someone does not know facts or information that they should know :
▪ I haven’t read your latest book, so I hope you’ll forgive my ignorance.
ignorance of
▪ He showed complete ignorance of the most basic historical facts.
▷ uninformed /ˌʌnɪnˈfɔːʳmd◂/ [adjective]
people or opinions that are uninformed show a lack of knowledge and information about the subject that they are discussing :
▪ Careless or uninformed decisions during these huge storms can lead to loss of life and property.
uninformed about
▪ The Vice-President gave the impression of being remarkably uninformed about South American affairs.
▷ ill-informed /ˌɪl ɪnˈfɔːʳmd◂/ [adjective]
not knowing much about something or making mistakes about it because you have been given incorrect or not enough information :
▪ He’s either a liar or he’s incredibly ill-informed.
▪ Writers such as Oscar Wilde were the target of ill-informed and often hostile criticism simply because they were gay.
ill-informed about
▪ For someone who wants to be a journalist, she’s remarkably ill-informed about current affairs.
▷ layman/lay person /ˈleɪmən, ˈleɪ pɜːʳs ə n/ [countable noun]
someone who has no special knowledge about a subject such as science or medicine, as opposed to people who have special knowledge or training :
▪ Professor Hawking’s book is intended for the lay person who has an interest in the field of nuclear physics and astronomy.
in layman’s terms
using words a layman can understand
▪ Many superb doctors are incapable of communicating in layman’s terms.
20. something that people know nothing or very little about
▷ unknown /ˌʌnˈnəʊn◂/ [adjective]
▪ After they left Kathmandu they would be travelling through unknown territory.
▪ There are still a great many unknown insect species in the world.
▪ Yesterday the village was quite unknown, but today it’s on the front page of all the newspapers.
▷ the unknown /ði ˌʌnˈnəʊn/ [singular noun]
a place or an experience that people have not been in before and that they are therefore often nervous about :
▪ In 1492 Columbus and his group of tiny ships set off into the unknown.
▪ Starting a new relationship with someone is always a journey into the unknown.
fear of the unknown
▪ The fear of the unknown prevents many people from making significant changes in their lives.
▷ uncharted /ʌnˈtʃɑːʳtɪd, ʌnˈtʃɑːʳtəd/ [adjective usually before noun]
relating to places that have not been put on a map yet, or to situations that have not yet been experienced :
▪ Space is filled with unknown stars and uncharted galaxies.
uncharted territory
▪ When Indian politicians established mass democracy in 1947, they knew they were entering uncharted territory.
▷ unidentified /ˌʌnaɪˈdentɪfaɪd◂, ˌʌnaɪˈdentəfaɪd◂/ [adjective]
if something is unidentified, people do not know what it is, what its name is, or who it belongs to - used especially in newspapers or in official reports :
▪ A large unidentified object was spotted floating in the sea near our ship.
▪ Two unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Consulate van.
▪ The body remained unidentified until the police checked dental records.
▷ little known /ˌlɪtl ˈnəʊn◂/ [adjective usually before noun]
a little known place or thing is one that not many people know about :
▪ He was born on a little known island off the south coast of Spain.
▪ The kakapo is a little known species of parrot that lives in New Zealand.
21. a person or place that not many people know or know about
▷ unknown /ˌʌnˈnəʊn◂/ [adjective]
▪ The picture was painted in the 15th Century by an unknown Italian artist.
▪ Until their first single, the Beatles were virtually unknown outside Hamburg and Liverpool.
unknown to
▪ The Internet has opened up a marketplace where sellers and buyers are virtually unknown to each other.
▷ little known/little-known /ˌlɪtl ˈnəʊn◂/ [adjective usually before noun]
a little known artist, film etc is one that very few people know about :
▪ A little-known separatist group claimed responsibility for the explosion.
▪ Bernardo Vittone is little known outside his native Italy.
▷ obscure /əbˈskjʊəʳ/ [adjective]
not at all well-known and usually not very important :
▪ Picasso’s first exhibition received only a short mention in an obscure Parisian newspaper.
▪ The Silver Apples are one of those obscure bands that you might hear about, but never actually hear.
obscurity [uncountable noun]
▪ An American publishing company rescued him from obscurity and offered him $100,000 for his first novel.
▷ shadowy figure /ˌʃædəʊi ˈfɪgəʳǁ-ˈfɪgjər/ [countable noun] written
a mysterious person that people know very little about, especially someone who seems dangerous :
▪ Vogel, a high-ranking official in East Berlin, was one of the Cold War’s most shadowy figures.
▷ an unknown quantity /ən ˌʌn-nəʊn ˈkwɒntə̇tiǁ-ˈkwɑːn-/ [noun phrase]
someone that very little is known about, especially in relation to their abilities, so that you do not know if they will be successful :
▪ The team’s new pitcher has never played pro baseball before and is something of an unknown quantity.
22. to know someone
▷ know /nəʊ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if you know someone, you have met them before, can remember their face or name, and know something about them, such as where they live, what their job is etc :
▪ Do you two know each other?
▪ Everyone who knew her described her as a kind, generous person.
▪ Do you know anyone who can repair a boiler?
▪ Although we worked for him for years, Cathy was the only one who knew him well.
▷ know somebody by sight /ˌnəʊ somebody baɪ ˈsaɪt/ [verb phrase]
to be able to recognize someone but not know their name or anything else about them :
▪ Bentson knew all the women by sight, but he’d never exchanged more than a few words with any of them.
▪ Two or three of the salespeople knew me by sight.
▷ be acquainted with /biː əˈkweɪntə̇d wɪð/ [verb phrase] formal
to know someone because you have met once or twice before but to not know much about them :
▪ ‘Have you met Lee Davidson?’ ‘No, I don’t think we’re acquainted.’
▪ He lived in Great Russell Street and became acquainted with Keynes and other famous British thinkers of the time.
23. to start to know someone
▷ get to know /ˌget tə ˈnəʊ/ [verb phrase]
to start to become friends with someone by spending a lot of time with them and talking to them :
▪ The volunteers had a lot of trouble getting to know the local people.
▪ Being stuck on a small boat, you get to know someone pretty well.
▪ Steve’s alright once you get to know him.
▷ get acquainted /ˌget əˈkweɪntə̇d/ [verb phrase]
to start to know someone who you have only just met :
▪ I’ll leave you two alone so you can get acquainted.
get acquainted with
▪ I had no problems getting acquainted with the girls, but the guys were a little harder.
get better acquainted
▪ Maybe we should invite Sam round for dinner so we can get better acquainted.
▷ meet /miːt/ [transitive verb]
to see and talk to someone for the first time :
▪ Where did you meet Michael?
▪ Carol and I first met at university.
▪ Branford took us to meet a few of his colleagues.
24. someone you know, but not very well
▷ acquaintance /əˈkweɪntəns/ [countable noun]
▪ She’s just an acquaintance -- I see her sometimes at night school.
business/childhood/musical etc acquaintance
one you know from business, childhood etc
▪ I first heard of the idea from a business acquaintance in Montpelier.
mutual acquaintance
one that you and someone else both know
▪ Jane and I met through a mutual acquaintance at a party.
▷ have met/met /həv ˈmet, met/ [transitive verb]
if you have met someone, you have seen and talked to them, although you do not know them very well :
▪ ‘Do you know Chris?’ ‘Yes, we’ve met.’
▪ We met once before at Jo’s house.
25. someone you do not know
▷ stranger /ˈstreɪndʒəʳ/ [countable noun]
▪ The room was full of strangers.
be a stranger to somebody
▪ After assuming office, he was reluctant to use the existing speech writers because they were strangers to him.
perfect/complete stranger
use this to emphasize that you do not know someone at all
▪ The boy was a complete stranger to me.