Hi everyone, thanks for clicking, I am Niharika and in today's lesson we are gonna look at
phrases that mean, I don't know. Well there are many questions that are bombarded on us
and we have no answer to it. So each one of us, usually use the phrase, I don't know.
So since variety is the spice of life, why not some different phrases? And that's what
we are gonna learn in today's lesson.
So let's have a look at the very first phrase which is, I have no idea.so if someone comes
ad asks you a question and you have no answer to it and you can't even guess the answer.
Okay you have no information and you are unable to guess the answer, then a perfect phrase,
instead of just saying, I don't know, is I have no idea. So there are in fact three phrases
here that can be used in a similar situation where in you have no answer to a question
and you can't even guess. Okay so when you have no idea, when you do not know the answer
to a question that's been asked to you and you can't even guess. So that is when you
can use one of these three phrases, which are, I have no idea. The other one is, I have
no clue and then the third expression that I have for you is I haven't the foggiest idea.
So questions like, hey do you know if James is coming for the movie? You have no information
about James, you haven't talked to him. So a perfect answer that you can give to your
friend is I have no idea. I haven't spoken to James, right? The other one, let's think
of an example, hey do you know who broke this glass? I have no clue. Well you were not there.
So you have no information, who broke the glass? So you are gonna say, I have no clue
or you can say, I haven't the foggiest idea. So foggiest, as in you do not know it. Okay
the picture is absolutely blurred to you, the reason because you have no information.
So these are the three interesting phrases that you can use, alright?
Let’s have a look at another set of phrases. How should I know? Don’t ask me and the
third one is, search me. Now when can you use these phrases? You know there are times
when people ask you questions and you have no answer to it and you are really annoyed
and irritated, that why is this person asking me? yes, it happens, especially when you are
at your work place, someone, you are very busy and someone just comes up to you and
asks you, different types of questions and you're like, leave me alone. I don't know
the answer. Now you can't say this. So better words or better phrases that you can use when
you are annoyed and you want to kind of show it to that person that, yes it's quite an
annoying question because I have no answer to it. Then these are the phrases that you
can use. How should I know? For example, hey, do you know James has started dating Gina
and you're like, I don't care, like this is none of my business. So you can use the phrase,
how should I know? Okay so you don't have an answer, you have no clue, who is dating
whom? So use this. The second one, don't ask me. Now don't ask me is again when someone
asks you a question and you have no answer and you are annoyed, then you can say, don't
ask me. For example, do you know who stole money from my wallet? You’re like, why are
you asking me this question? So you can say, don't ask me, okay and the third one. The
third one is search me, which is again, said in a very sarcastic manner. So for example,
your boss comes and asks you, hey Niharika; do you know who helped him with this project?
Now you have no idea and you are kind of annoyed but then he is your boss, you can't be really
mean to him. So you can just be a little sarcastic and say that, search me. So which actually
means that you have no idea or you don't know who helped him with the project, okay.
Then the next one we have, is your guess is as good as mine. Now certain people will come
up to you and ask questions because they don't know the answer. Now even you don't know the
answer, so you'll are in the same position. Right, even he doesn't know, even you don't
know. So rather than just saying, I don't know, you can say, your guess is as good as
mine. So it means, that you’ll are thinking the same thing, which is I don't know. Okay
this is the way, you can use this expression.
Then we also have, it beats me. Now when do you use this expression? When you do not understand
certain things. Okay like for example, you are in your college and your professor is
giving a lecture on something and you are not able to understand him. It’s quite confusing.
Now your partner or your friend says that, hey, are you able to understand him? Or do
you understand what he is saying? Yes of course, you are confused, you don't know what he is
saying, you have no idea, what he is trying to explain? So rather than saying, I don't
know, you can say, it beats me. So which means that you do not understand something, right?
So when you don't understand things, you can use the phrase, it beats me. Right so when
you fail to understand something, say it beats me. Okay, the next one, not as far as I know.
Now there are certain things that people tell you or ask you, and probably it's true. But
according to your information, it's not or you have no idea. So if someone says, hey
you know what, Susan got married and the last time you met Susan, well she was not married.
Okay so now your friend comes and tells you that Susan’s got married. Did you know about
it? So you’ll be like, not as far as I know. So here, you are actually trying to say, that
yes may be she's married, may be this news is very much true. But then according to me,
it's not, okay. I do not have the information, I have no idea, right so that is how you will
use this expression, when the situation or that thing is true but not according to you.
Okay and then the last one is who knows? Now when do you use this expression? When there
is definitely no answer to a question like, nobody has an answer to it. So it's not just
because you are not smart but it's because nobody is smart, nobody has answer to a question.
Like for example, when will animals die? Wow, what kind of question is that? Nobody has
an answer to it, right? It’s just weird. If someone comes and asks you this question,
so you gonna be like who knows? So when you have no answer like an answer is impossible
to a question that is when you can say, who knows? Okay.
Alright, so here are the phrases that you can use, the net time someone asks you a question
and you have no idea, then please use one of these phrases, rather than just saying,
I don't know, right? I'll be back with a new lesson soon, till then, you take care.