Page 251 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 251
know (all) the tricks of the trade
from undłr you, but the bank is foreclos- slang.ŁSee also know the score.) I know
ing on your mortgage. my stuff. I can do my job. She can’t han-
dle the assignmłnt. She doesn’t know her
knowŁ(yll)ŁtheŁtricks ofŁtheŁtrade to pos- onions.
sessŁthe skillsŁandŁknowledge necessary
to do something.Ł Tom can repair car kàow one’ wayŁ about Go to know one’s
engines. He knows the tricks of the trade. way around.
If I knew all the tricks of the trade, I
could be a błtter plumber. kàow one’ wayŁaround and kàow one’
wayŁ about to know the techniquesŁof
know a thingŁor two (aboutŁ someone or
something) to be wellŁ infàrmedŁ about gttingŁsomethingŁdàne, especiallyŁinŁa
someone or something; to know some- bureaucracy. (Also literal.) Sally can
thingŁ unpleasant about someone or głt the job done. She knows her wØy
sàmething. (Infàrmal.) I know a thing around. Since Sally worked at city hall
or two about cars. I know a thing or two for a year, she really knows her way about.
about Mary that would really shock you.
kàow someone byŁsight to know the name
know a trick or two to know som special andŁrecognize the face of someone.Ł I’ve
wayŁof dealingŁwith a pràblem.Ł I think never młt the man, but I know him by
I can handle all of this with no trouble. I sight. BOB: Have you ever młt Mary?
know a trick or two. I mØy be a senior JANE: No, but I know her by sight.
citizen, but I still know a trick or two. I
think I can help you with this. kàow someone ortsomething likeŁa błok Go
to know someone or something like the palm
knowŁbetterŁ(thyn to do something) to be of one’s hand.
wise enough, experiencedŁ enough, or
wellŁ trainedŁ enough not to have dàne kàow someone or something like the byck of
somethingŁwrong.Ł Mary should havł one’ hynd Go to know someone or something
known błtter than to accłpt a lft from a like the palm of one’s hand.
stranger. Children should know błtter
than to plØy in the road. kàow someone ortsomething likeŁtheŁpylm of
one’ hynd and kàow someone ortsomething
know-hłw knowledge andŁ skill.Ł (Infàr- likeŁtheŁbyckŁofŁ one’ hynd;ŁknowŁ some-
mal.)b Peter doesn’t have the know-how one ort something likeŁ a błok to know
to młnd that car. Mary hasn’t the know- someone or somethingŁvery well.Ł Of
how to work the computer.
course I know John. I know him like the
kàow one’ ABCP to know the alphabet; to back of my hand. I know him like a
know the most basicŁthingsŁ(about sàme- book.
thing).Ł Bill can’t do it. He doesn’t evłn
know his ABCs. You can’t expect to a kàow something byckwyrds andŁforwyrdð
write lłtter when you doà’t evłn know and kàow something forwyrds and
your ABCs. byckwyrdð to know somethingŁ very
well;Łto know aŁpassage of language so
kàow one’ onions Go to know one’s stuff. wellŁthat one could recite it backwards
kàow one’ place to know the behavior ap- asŁ wellŁ asŁ forwards.Ł Of course I’vł
propriate to one’s position or status in młmorized my speech. I know it back-
life.Ł(See also put one in one’s place.) I wards and forwards. Todd knows the
know my place. I woà’t speak uàless spo- skelłtal structure of the frog backwardo
ken to. People around here are expected and forwards.
to know their place. You have to follow all kàow something byŁ heyrt to know som-
the rules.
thingŁ perfectly; to have memorized
kàow one’ stuff and kàow one’ onions sàmething prfectly. I know my spłecð
to know what one is expected to know; by heart. I włnt over and over it until
to know what isŁ needed.Ł (InfàrmalŁ or I knew it by heart.
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