know all the answers

Idioms  

1. Also, know a thing or two; know it all; know one's way around. Be extremely knowledgeable or experienced. These idioms may be used somewhat differently, expressing overconfidence, as in Helen always knew all the answers, or thought she did, or competence, as in Bob knows a thing or two about battery technology, or ruefulness, as in I thought I knew it all about plants and then I got poison ivy, or genuine expertise, as in John knows his way around tax forms. The first term dates from the early 1900s, the second from the later 1700s, the third from the later 1800s, and the fourth, also put as know one's way about, dates from the 1500s. Also see know one's stuff; know the ropes; under tricks of the trade.

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Example Sentences

The lack of a new inquiry "doesn't mean we know all the answers," she says, but that it was "unlikely we will find more answers now because it's so long ago".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2024

“She said, ‘We don’t know all the answers.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2022

“Overall, just provide reassurance, that this is what we know right now. Let them know you don’t know all the answers but here are some places we can go,” Domingues said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 25, 2022

Listen and don’t come in thinking you know all the answers.

From Reuters • Dec. 22, 2021

Like maybe she doesn’t know all the answers, and she’s willing to let that show on the outside.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

Related Words

• apprehensive
• careful
• cautious
• cognizant
• conscious
• conversant
• knowledgeable
• observant
• respectful
• solicitous
• vigilant
• wary
• watchful