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Synonyms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2022

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

From Reuters • Dec. 22, 2021

“Companies have to stop pretending they know all the answers right now; this is quite literally unprecedented,” she said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2021

We don’t know all the answers of where we’re going.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2021

“And although it’s not easy being bad, this next game is. Easy, not bad. Then again, I already know all the answers, which makes any quiz easier, wouldn’t you agree?”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.