Idioms and Expressions Related to Knowledge

Idioms and Expressions Related to Knowledge

Hi dear English learners! Who showed you the ropes when you first started to work? What does it mean? Keep reading because I’m going to explain 12 idioms and expressions related to knowledge.

• Common knowledge
• Working knowledge
• To (the best of) my knowledge
• As far as I know
• Know the ropes
• Thirst for knowledge
• Pick someone’s brain
• Great minds think alike
• Under your belt
• Get your head around something
• Knowledge is power
• Two heads are better than one

Common knowledge

Common knowledge is something that many people know but don’t talk about it too much, or simply something that most people are familiar with.

• It’s common knowledge that Betty has a drinking problem, although no one talks about it.
• That’s no secret that a healthy diet is the key to healthy body and mind? It’s common knowledge.

Working knowledge

If you have a working knowledge, then you know how to do something because you’ve got relevant experience. When applying for a job, you can say that you have working knowledge of things you know how to do although you’re not an expert.

• You need to have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excell for this position.
• Sofia speaks English very well and has a working knowledge of German and Spanish.

Idioms and Expressions Related to Knowledge

To (the best of) my knowledge

The expression refers to something you are familiar with but maybe don’t know all about it. The synonymous phrase would be – as far as I know.

• To the best of my knowledge,  this is the first time anyone from our school has received this award.
• Adriana has never been to Italy, to my knowledge.

As far as I know

This is a similar expression and you simply use it to say what you know about something.

• As far as I know, it’s not going to rain this week. At least, that’s what they said on the weather forecast.
• The tenants haven’t paid this month’s rent yet, as far as I know. 

Know the ropes

You can learn or know the ropes. You can also show someone the ropes. The expression refers to the knowledge you have about a job. 

• Julia has been a secretary for ten years. She certainly knows the ropes.
• When Paul began to work as a buyer for that department store, he didn’t know the ropes, but he learned them eventually.

Thirst for knowledge

A thirst for knowledge refers to a strong desire to learn new things.

• Mary has had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, ever since she learned to read.
• Although dyslexic, Robert had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

Idioms and Expressions Related to Knowledge

Pick someone’s brain

If you don’t know what to do about something and you may need advice, you can pick someone’s brain which means asking them for advice about that matter.

• Brian, I wanted to pick your brain about the new photocopier. Can you show me how to use it?
• Do you mind if I pick your brain about your houseplants? What do you do to them? They look exceptionally beautiful and healthy.

Great minds think alike

This is an expression you can use to tell someone that you think the same about something.

• “I totally agree with you.““Well, great minds think alike.”
• I was going to say that great minds think alike because I share your opinion on this matter.

Idioms and Expressions related to knowledge

Under your belt

You can say that you have some knowledge or skill you’ve learned under your belt.

• Once I got driving under my belt, I hit the road and travelled all around Europe.
• If you want to apply for this job, you must have computer skills under your belt.

Get your head around something

This idiom is usually used in negative form. So, if you can’t get your head around something then you can’t understand it.

• This math task is so difficult. I was trying to solve it all afternoon but I couldn’t get my head around it.
• Have you got your head around the new law on taxes?

Idioms and Expressions Related to Knowledge

Knowledge is power

Don’t you agree that knowledge is power? The greater your knowledge about things, the more successful you’re going to be.

• If you want to be successful, the best thing to do is to try and get a proper education while you’re still young because knowledge is power.
• More and more people have access to all kinds of information via the Internet and we all know that knowledge is power.

Two heads are better than one

If two or more people work on a solution to a problem, they will solve it easier than one person alone.

• We are having a meeting after work. We need to work out the best time to go on holiday for all employees individually so that the business doesn’t suffer. Two heads are better than one.
• When problems occur, two heads are always better than one.

To sum up, in today’s post I’ve shared 12 idioms, expressions and phrases related to knowledge. Here is the list:

• Common knowledge
• Working knowledge
• To (the best of) my knowledge
• As far as I know
• Know the ropes
• Thirst for knowledge
• Pick someone’s brain
• Great minds think alike
• Under your belt
• Get your head around something
• Knowledge is power
• Two heads are better than one

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