Engage in more informed conversations and understand the world better by learning English idioms about knowledge and understanding.
13 topics181 words
Knowledge12 words
on a need-to-know basisphraseused to refer to the practice of providing information only to those who absolutely require that specific information to perform their tasks or duties effectively
back to frontphraseused to indicate one's complete knowledge or understanding of something
to [know] {sth} like the back of {one's} handphraseto be well-informed about or completely familiar with something
to [know] {sb/sth} inside outphraseto have very good knowledge or understanding about someone or something
to [have] {sth} at {one's} fingertipsphraseto have easy, immediate access to something, often information or resources
to [have|know] {sth} down patphraseto know something so perfectly that one can do it at anytime without having to focus or think
the ins and outs of {sth}phrasea complete set of facts or details about how something is done or how it works
to [stand] on the shoulders of giantsphraseto take advantage of the understanding and discoveries of influential figures who have been through the same or similar intellectual progress
a thing or twophrasesome pieces of information or knowledge that may be useful or relevant at a later time
to [know] the scorephraseto be well-informed about a particular situation, to the point where one is able to determine the outcome
street smartsnounthe knowledge or experience that is crucial for one to survive or succeed in urban environments
up to speedphrasein a state of being informed and knowledgeable about a particular topic or situation
Logic & Wisdom10 words
horse sensenouna person's ability to make good judgments and behave sensibly
to [hold] waterphrase(of an argument, theory, etc.) to be believable or supported by evidence
mother witnounnatural or instinctive intelligence and common sense that comes from personal experience and intuition rather than formal education or training
against {one's} better judgmentphraseused when one does something even though one knows it is not sensible
to [talk] sensephraseto speak in a clear and reasonable manner
thinking capnounthe mental state of actively engaging in thought or problem-solving, often with an emphasis on creativity or generating ideas
to [take] leave of {one's} sensesphraseto start thinking or acting in a way that seems foolish
(an old|a wise) head on young shouldersphrasea young person or a child who talks and behaves like an older or more experienced person would
wise (beyond|for) {one's} yearsphraseexceptionally wise compared to most people at one's age
gray matternouna person's ability to learn or understand something
Awareness or Unawareness13 words
(at|in) the back of {one's} mindphrasein the part of the mind that holds thoughts and memories that are not often recalled or thought about
to [wake] up and [smell] the coffeephraseto recognize the reality of a situation, no matter how unpleasant it may be
with {one's} eyes openphrasewell aware of the difficulties of one's situation or its consequences
to [lose] touchphraseto be no longer in contact with a friend or acquaintance
to [lose] sight of {sb/sth}phraseto completely forget about or fail to consider something, particularly due to being really busy
with {one's} eyes (closed|shut)phraselacking awareness regarding the potential outcomes of a particular action
to [have] {one's} numberphraseto have the advantage by being fully aware of someone's real motives or character
ivory towernouna situation or state in which someone does not know or wishes to avoid the unpleasant things that can normally happen to people in their ordinary lives
away with the fairiesphrase(of a person) completely disconnected from reality
a window (to|into|on|onto) the worldphrasesomething, such as a book, move clip, etc., that provides one with information about a variety of people, places, events, or things that one cannot physically interact with or experience
all therephraseused to describe someone who is mentally sharp and fully aware
lose touchphraseto not have knowledge or awareness about someone or something
with one's eyes closedphraselacking awareness regarding the potential outcomes of a particular action
News & Information19 words
(straight|) from the horse's mouthphrase(of information) from an accurate or valid source
to [blow] the whistle on {sb/sth}phraseto inform the authorities about something secret or the breach of legalities, particularly because one is morally obliged to do so
to [hear] {sth} (through|on) the grapevinephraseto hear something that was passed from one person to another, like a rumor or gossip
in the loopphrasefully informed about or actively participating in something, such as a discussion or a process
to [keep] on topphraseto stay informed about or completely in control of a situation and how it develops
to [keep] {sb} postedphraseto provide someone with sufficient and relevant information regarding someone or something
to [put] {sb} in the picturephraseto provide someone with information they require to handle or understand a situation
to [spread] like wildfirephrase(of news, information, or rumors) to quickly become known by the majority
up on {sth}phrasewith an extensive knowledge concerning current topics and events
first handphrase(of information) received without any intervention of other people or agencies
(by|through) (the|) word of mouthphraseby telling others rather than writing or showing it to them
heads-upnouna warning or notification provided in advance to inform someone about a situation, often to prepare them for what is coming
a little birdphrasean anonymous or unidentified source of information
{one's} ears [are] burningsentenceused to indicate that someone believes others are talking about them even when they are absent
Chinese whispersnouna situation where a message gets passed from one person to another, but it often gets changed along the way
paper trailnouna collection of documents that provide written or recorded version of someone's activities
fishing expeditionnounan attempt made to find out the facts about something via collecting a lot of information, often secretly
hot off the pressphrase(of a piece of information or news) recently received
out of touchphrasenot having recent information regarding a certain thing, particularly an event
Ignorance16 words
to [bury|have] {one's} head in the sandphraseto intentionally ignore unpleasant facts about a situation and hope that the situation improves by doing so
in the darkphrasein a state in which one is not informed about important things
out of the loopphrasenot being aware of recent information about something
to [turn] a deaf earphraseto pretend as if one cannot hear someone complaining or asking one something
to [fall] on deaf earsphrase(of statements, warnings, requests, etc.) to be completely ignored
to [go] in one ear and out the otherphrase(of information, advice, etc.) to not be taken seriously and hence immediately forgotten
the blind leading the blindphraseused to describe a situation in which an incompetent or inexperienced person is advising others who have no knowledge or experience at all
to [fall] (through|between) the cracksphrase(of a person) to be completely ignored, usually in a system or process
to [sweep] {sth} under the rugphraseto pretend that something is not happening or is not the case
to [turn] a blind eyephraseto pretend as if one cannot see or notice something
ostrich (strategy|plan)phrasea strategy in which a person chooses to ignore or evades the truth or potential problems about a particular situation
to [slip|fall] through the netphrase(of a person) to be neglected or go unnoticed, particularly by a social or political system that should have been more responsible
fall through the cracksphrase(of a person) to be completely ignored, usually in a system or process
fall through the cracksphrase(of something, particularly issues) to be completely overlooked
slip through the netphrase(of a person) to be neglected or go unnoticed, particularly by a social or political system that should have been more responsible
slip through the netphrase(of something particularly an issue) to go unnoticed or to be overlooked within a system, plan, or organization, etc.
Understanding12 words
to [know] a hawk from a handsawphraseto be able to show or recognize a difference between two individuals or things
open booknouna person or a thing that is easy to understand or predict
to [read] {sb} like a bookphraseto be able to easily understand what someone is thinking about or what their intention is
to [get] to the (heart|bottom) of {sth}phraseto discover or determine the underlying cause of something, particularly an issue
to [read] between the linesphraseto get an understanding of what someone's true intention is or how they feel based on what they say or write
to [drum] {sth} into {one's} [head]phraseto frequently repeat something to someone so that they finally learn or memorize it
quick off the markphrasereacting quickly or immediately to an opportunity or situation
in words of one syllablephrasein a tone or manner that can be understood by many
the scales [fall] from {one's} eyessentenceto suddenly realize the truth about a situation
light bulb momentphrasea sudden realization or understanding of something, often an idea or solution
to [shed] light on {sth}phraseto provide clarification, understanding, or insight into a topic, situation, or problem
head tripnounan experience that is as very thrilling and memorable
Lack of Understanding13 words
to [use] {one's} [head|noodle|naggin]phraseto carefully consider the facts of a situation in order to understand something, make a decision, or solve a problem
out of {one's} depthphrasein a very nervous or frustrating state of mind in face of a problem or situation one knows very little or nothing about
your guess is as good as minesentencesaid when one does not have a definite answer to a particular question, similar to the questioner
to [get|have] the wrong end of the stickphraseto fail to understand or interpret or understand something correctly
to {not} [know] beans about {sth}phraseto have no information regarding a particular subject
for the life of {sb}phraseused when one is incapable of understanding or remembering a particular thing
closed booknounsomeone or something one knows very little or nothing about
(as|) clear as mudphraseused to describe something that is complicated due to not being clearly described or shown
{not} [know] {one's} ass from {one's} elbowsentenceto be incapable of understanding even the simplest concepts
final frontierphrasethe limits of human knowledge or understanding, representing areas that remain unknown or unexplored
in a fogphraseconfused and unable to think clearly
to [wrap] {one's} [head|mind|brain] around {sth}phraseto fully understand something difficult, complicated, or strange
to [make] head or tail (out|) of {sb/sth}phraseto make an attempt to understand someone or something that is puzzling
Absence of Comprehension12 words
to [beat] {one's} brains outphraseto try one's best in order to solve a problem or to understand it
to [blind] {sb} with sciencephraseto confuse someone by using difficult or technical words while describing something to them
none the wiserphraseused to describe a situation in which someone remains uninformed or unaware, typically after an event or the receipt of information
to [get|have] {one's} wires crossedphraseto fail to correctly understand or interpret what someone said
to [lose] the plotphraseto be unable to comprehend what is happening around one
beats mesentenceused when one is completely unable to guess or understand something
search meinterjectionused as a response to mean that one does not have any answer to a particular question
beyond the veilphrasein a state or place that is unknown or unseen, particularly referring to where people go after they die
over {one's} headphraseused to refer to something that is complicated or difficult beyond one's understanding or capability
to [be|sound] (all|like) Greek to {sb}phraseused for saying that one is unable to understand the meaning of something particular
la-la landnouna state in which one does not understand the current situation due to being completely detached from reality
blind spotnouna subject that is very challenging or boring to one
Realization20 words
to [bring] {sth} to lightphraseto clarify or supply additional information on something
to [come] home to {sb}phraseto become completely clear and easily understood
to [come] to lightphraseto finally become known or revealed after a period of secrecy
to [get|catch] wind of {sth}phraseto become aware of a piece of information that has been long kept a secret
to [open] {one's} eyes to {sth}phraseto realize something important, particularly something that one was neglecting
to [throw|shed|cast] light on {sth}phraseto provide someone with information about something ambiguous to make it easier to understand
to [put] a bug in {one's} earphraseto provide someone with a hint or suggestion
to [hit|strike|drive] home {sth}phraseto make others understand or accept something, particularly by keep repeating it
to [bring] {sth} home to {sb}phraseto make something deeply understood or realized by presenting it in a relatable and impactful way
to [fall] into placephraseto start to have a clear meaning
to [put] two and two togetherphraseto evaluate the situation and all its possible outcomes in order to draw a conclusion
to [see] the lightphraseto begin to understand or realize something after a long period of ignorance or doubt
to [take] a look in the mirrorphraseto reflect on one's actions so as to accept one's flaws and shortcomings
to [see] {sb/sth} in a new lightphraseto see people or things through a different perspective
to [talk] (some|) sense into {sb}phraseto convince someone to think or behave in a more rational, reasonable, or sensible manner, often through logical arguments
to [knock] (some|) sense into {sb}phraseto attempt to make someone understand something, often forcefully or through persuasion
to [get] the picturephraseto fully comprehend a situation
the penny [drop]phraseused to say that a person has finally understood or realized something
to [take] {sth} the wrong wayphraseto fail to understand something incorrectly, often leading to offense
fall into placephraseto start to have a clear meaning
Remembering13 words
to [rack] {one's} [brain]phraseto think hard or make a great effort to remember or solve something
to [ring] a bellphraseto make one feel a sense of familiarity or help one remember something
to [take] a (stroll|trip|walk) down memory lanephraseto talk or write about one's enjoyable previous experiences
to [have] a memory like an elephantphraseto easily be able to remember things and rarely forget them
blast from the pastphrasethe unexpected appearance or remebrance of a person or thing that evokes nostalgic feelings within one
mind's eyephrasea person's ability to visualize things that could happen
to [have] a familiar [ring|rhythm]phraseto make one think of something one saw or heard before
to [jog] {one's} memoryphraseto help someone remember something they forgot
(in|within) living memoryphraseused to refer to events or experiences that have happened within the lifetime of people who are currently alive, particularly recently
to [ring] in {one's} (ears|head)phrase(of a memory) to still be present in one's mind, particularly when one does not want to remember it
to [open|reopen] old woundsphraseto bring up past painful or unresolved experiences, often leading to emotional distress or discomfort
for old times' sakephraseas a way to remember or honor past experiences or relationships
if {one's} memory [serve] {sb} (right|)sentenceused when one is trying to remember something, but is not sure whether one can remember it correctly
Forgetting10 words
to [draw] a blankphraseto be unable to remember something clearly
to [have] a (memory|mind|head|brain) like a sievephraseto often forget things due to one's exceptionally poor memory
time out of mindphrasea time so long ago that one has difficulty remembering clearly
to [be] on the tip of {one's} tonguephraseto be very close to remembering or saying something but fail nevertheless
to [slip] {one's} (mind|memory)phraseto be forgotten or disregarded
to forgive and forgetphraseto no longer be angry with someone who wronged one and act as if nothing happened
to [go] blankphraseto fail to remember what one previously knew
senior momentnountemporary loss of memory that is experienced by some people when they get old
lost in the mists of timephrase(of something that happened) really difficult to remember how long has passed since it happened to one
draw a blankphraseto be unable to remember something clearly
Expertise22 words
to [get] the hang of {sth}phraseto learn how something works or how to use it
to [know] {one's} stuffphraseto be very knowledgeable about or skillful in a particular field of work
[show|teach] {sb} the ropesphraseto show or teach someone how a particular job or task is done
to [know] the ropesphraseto have a good knowledge or understanding about how to do something or how something works
to [learn] the ropesphraseto become acquainted with or knowledgeable about how to do a certain job or task
old handnoun(of a person) having extensive knowledge about or a lot of experience in a particular activity or job
a nose for {sth}phraseone's ability to find things of a particular type to suit one's needs
(strong|strongest) suitphrasesomething that one is exceptionally good at
past masternounan expert in a particular field with a great deal of experience
to [turn] {one's} hand to {sth}phraseto start something, such as an activity, field of study, etc., in an skillful way
to [carry] a tunephraseto produce correct musical sounds by one's voive voice
jack of all tradesphrasea person who is competent in many different tasks
worth {one's} saltphraseused to describe a competent person who performs their job well and is deserving of respect and the compensation they receive
to [know] what [is] whatphraseto have a clear understanding or knowledge of a situation or matter
to [know] {one's} onionsphraseto have a great deal of information regarding a particular subject
to [keep] {one's} hand inphraseto practice or engage in an activity only to maintain a skill or ability
tricks of the tradephrasea set of techniques that are only shared among members of a particular profession
to [play] by earphraseto have the ability to play music by listening to it and recreating the sounds and melodies without relying on sheet music or written notation
to [have] Van Gogh's ear for {sth}phraseto be exceptionally talented and naturally skilled in a particular area
to [get|have] the basics (down|straight|right)phraseto have the fundamental knowledge or skills that is required
to [have] a way with {sb/sth}phraseto have a natural talent in dealing with a particular type of people or things
of the first waterphrase(of a person) with exceptional skill or talent in a particular area or field, to the point of being considered an example of excellence
Inexpertness9 words
small dog, tall weedssentenceused to describe a person who seems to be incapable of doing something due to a lack of necessary resources or skills
for toffeephraseused to say that someone is extremely bad at doing something
one-trick ponynouna person or thing that excels at doing only one thing
out of practicephraseused to say that one did not have much experience with something and therefore is not very good at it
wet behind the earsphrasehaving little knowledge or experience of a particular situation or activity
to [lose] {one's} touchphraseto no longer be able to do a certain activity as well as one did in the past
to {not} (even|) [know] the meaning of the wordphraseto lack knowledge or understanding of a particular concept or term
finger in the airphrasean unscientific or inaccurate estimate or method
jack of all trades, master of nonephrasea versatile and adaptable individual who can handle a variety of tasks effectively
Learn all 181 words in this list with spaced repetition