Ways to Say “I don’t know”
I’d like to focus on the different ways you can say “Idon’t know” in English.
In life we are at some stage going to have to use this expression, so as variety is the spice of life, using different ways to say “I don’t know” would make your conversation far more interesting and natural.
1. Dunno
This word is used informally and in spoken language, especially by
teenagers who don’t want to answer their parents!
‘When do you have to submit this essay?’ ‘Dunno. I can’t remember.’
2. I have no idea/I
haven’t a clue/I haven’t the faintest idea
These expressions are used when you have no information and you cannot
guess the answer to a question
·
‘What time does the film start?’ ‘I have no idea. Why don’t
you call the cinema?’
·
‘Would you by any chance know where St
James’s Street is?’ ‘I haven’t
a clue.Sorry.’
3. How should I
know?/Don’t ask me/Search me
These expressions are used when you do not know something and you feel
annoyed that someone is asking you about it.
·
‘Who left this mess on the table?’ ‘How should I know? I’ve only
just come home.’
·
‘What time did she say she was catching her
train? ’ ‘Don’t ask me.
I’m always the last to know.’
·
‘Why didn’t he ask you for the keys?’ ‘Search me. I’m not a mind
reader.’
4. Who knows?/It’s
anyone’s guess
These are used for saying that you don’t know something because it is
impossible for anyone to know it:
·
‘Will they ever find the missing aircraft?’ ‘Who knows? The search been
going on for such a long time now.’
·
‘How the situation will develop from here is anyone’s guess.’
5. Your guess is as
good as mine
This is used for saying that you know as little about something as the
person who asked you about it
·
‘Do you think we will be able to book the
restaurant for Friday?’ ‘Your
guess is as good as mine.’
6. Not as far as I
know
·
We use this to say that something may be
true, but you do not have enough information to know whether it is or not
·
‘Has Clive left the company? I haven’t seen
him for ages.’ ‘Not as far as
I know, but I haven’t seen him recently either.’
7. It beats me
This is a rather informal expression to say that you do not know or
understand something. “It” is often left out.
·
‘Why did he do such a stupid thing?’ ‘It beats me’
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