know all the answers

Idioms and Phrases

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

“Maybe I am a child,” she says, “but I understand their humor. When you are young, it’s silly. Now that we are grown up, we can see Popeye, Olive Oyl, Snoopy as philosophers. They make fun of everything and know all the answers to life.”

From Los Angeles Times

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

Bosses accepted that they didn’t know all the answers and communicated that to their teams.

From New York Times

“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 Literature

If math were about the Red Sox, Jax would know all the answers.

From Literature

Related Words

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