there's no telling

Idioms  

1. It's impossible to determine, as in There's no telling how many children will come down with measles, or There's no telling what will happen in the next episode of that soap opera. This idiom uses telling in the sense of “reckoning,” a usage dating from the late 1300s.

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Example Sentences

“If it hadn’t been for sports, there’s no telling what I’d be or where I’d be,” Lopes told The Times’ Ross Newhan in 1973.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile, and there’s no telling whether the reserve gamble will end up being a net gain for taxpayers.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

From Seagate’s and Western Digital’s perspectives, there’s no telling when demand could slow or change, Klein said.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 26, 2025

And while both sides seem to be itching for a fight, there's no telling when, or how, this fight will end.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

I wasn’t being strong, 1 was being reckless, and there’s no telling how much damage I’ve done.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins