Ways of saying that you do not know or understand

spoken used for answering that you think something is not true, although you are not completely certain

used for telling someone that you do not know the answer to their question when you are annoyed or surprised that they have asked you

your guess is as good as mine ()

used for telling someone that you know as little about something as they know

(that’s a) good question ()

used as a way of saying that you do not know something

I couldn’t tell you ()

used for saying that you do not know the answer to a question, especially when you do not want to be helpful

you may/might well ask ()

used for showing that you think someone’s question is difficult to answer

how should/do I know? ()

used for saying in an annoyed way that you do not know something

not for the life of me ()

used for emphasizing that you cannot remember or understand something at all

what is someone on about? ()

used when you do not understand what someone is talking about

who can say? ()

used for saying that no one knows the answer to a particular question or knows what will happen in the future

buggered (adjective)

Britishimpolite used for emphasizing that you do not know something

cannot make head nor/or tail of something ()

used for saying that you cannot understand something at all

can’t begin to imagine/understand/explain etc ()

used for emphasizing that something is very difficult to imagine, understand etc

eh (interjection)

informal used for showing that you do not understand what someone is saying, or that you are surprised by it

excuse my ignorance ()

used for asking a question that someone might expect you to know the answer to

for all I know ()

used for emphasizing that you do not know something

for aught I know/care ()

an old phrase used for saying that you do not know whether something is true, or that you do not care

for better or (for) worse ()

used for showing that you do not know whether an action, situation, or change will have good or bad results

for reasons best known to himself/herself etc ()

used for saying that you do not understand why someone does something

for some obscure reason ()

used for saying that you do not know the reason for something

for some reason ()

used for saying that you do not know why something happened, especially when you think there is no good reason for it

God/Goodness/Heaven knows ()

used for saying that you do not know something

God (only) knows ()

used for emphasizing that you do not know something

goodness (only) knows ()

used for emphasizing what you say, especially when you do not know something

heaven (only/alone) knows (spoken)

spoken used for saying that you do not know something or cannot imagine it

how come? ()

used when you want to know why something has happened or why a particular situation exists

how long is a piece of string? ()

used for saying that it is impossible to answer a question about how big something is or how much time something will take

I don’t know ()

used for saying that you are not certain about something

I don’t rightly know/I can’t rightly say ()

used for saying that you are not certain whether something is true or not

I fail to see/understand ()

used for saying in an annoyed way that you do not understand something

if I live to be a hundred ()

used for emphasizing that you will never do, know, or understand something

I’ll/we’ll have to see ()

used for saying that you are not able to decide now

in his/her/their wisdom ()

used for emphasizing that you do not understand why someone has done something and you think it seems silly

it beats me ()

used for saying that you do not know or understand something

it remains to be seen (whether/what/how) ()

used for saying that you cannot know yet if something will happen or be possible

it’s (all) Greek to me ()

used for saying that you do not understand something

it’s early days ()

used for saying that it is too soon to know whether someone or something will be successful

know/not know the meaning of something ()

used for emphasizing how much or how little you understand something

Lord (only) knows ()

used for emphasizing that you do not know something

neither fish nor fowl ()

used for saying that you do not know what something is

none the wiser ()

used for saying that you do not know or understand something, even after you have tried to find out about it, or after someone has tried to explain it

not have the faintest idea ()

used for emphasizing that you do not know or understand something

not have the foggiest (idea/notion) ()

used for emphasizing that you do not know anything at all about something

not hear/understand etc a (single) word ()

used for emphasizing that someone does not hear/understand etc anything that you say to them

not know what someone is talking about ()

used for saying that you do not understand what someone is referring to, even though you may really understand

not to my knowledge ()

used for answering that you think something is not true, although you are not completely certain

pass (verb)

spoken used for saying that you do not know the answer to a question

search me ()

used for emphasizing that you do not know the answer to a question

someone can’t say (something) ()

a polite way of saying that you do not know something

someone can’t say (something) ()

used for saying that you do not have a particular opinion

something is anyone’s guess ()

used for saying that something is not known by anyone

we’ll have to see about that (spoken)

spoken used for saying that you are not able to decide now

we’ll see ()

used for saying that you will decide later

what does someone want with something? ()

used for saying that you cannot understand why someone wants the thing mentioned

what is someone on? ()

used when you cannot understand why someone has done or said something

what’s so funny? ()

used for telling someone that you do not understand why they are laughing, and that you are slightly annoyed by it

what’s .... when it’s at home?/who’s .... when they’re at home? ()

used for saying that you do not know what or who someone is talking about

what/who/where can...? ()

used when you cannot understand a situation and you are considering possible explanations

wheels within wheels ()

used for saying that something is complicated and involves a lot of things that you do not understand

whoever someone is ()

used for referring to someone when you do not know who they are or what their name is

who knows/cares/wants/needs etc ()

used for saying that you do not know/care etc, and you think that no one else does

why me? ()

used when you cannot understand why you have been chosen to do something difficult or why something bad has happened to you

you have me there ()

used for telling someone that you do not know the answer to their question

you’ve got me (there) ()

used for saying that you do not know the answer

Synonyms and antonyms of Ways of saying that you do not know or understand in British Thesaurus