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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