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 ; under