Useful Idioms about Intelligence and Understanding in English

Contents

Idioms about Intelligence and Understanding

1. Knowledge is power

Meaning: The more someone knows, the more equipped that person is

E.g. Knowledge is power. If you know something about the past, it may help you to anticipate the future.

2. Learn the ropes

Meaning: To learn or understand the basic details of how to do or perform a job, task, or activity.

E.g. We have a few high-priority projects we need to get done now, so you’ll need to learn the ropes on your own.

3. Can’t make heads or tails of

Meaning: Failing to understand or confused about something.

E.g. I’ve been working with the new software for hours, but I still can’t make heads or tails out of it.

4. Burning the midnight oil, pull an all-nighter

Meaning: Used by students to indicate late night/all night studies.

E.g. I’m going to have to pull an all-nighter if I’m going to get this term paper done in time for school tomorrow.

5. Know something backward and forwards

Meaning: To be an expert or intimately familiar with something

E.g. I’ve read this book so many times, I know it backward.

6. Doing your homework

Meaning: Literally, to complete school work that has been assigned to be done at home.

E.g. You can’t watch any more television until you do your homework!

7. Under one’s belt

Meaning: Safely or satisfactorily achieved, experienced, or acquired.

E.g. He now has almost a year as a minister under his belt

8. Two heads are better than one.

Meaning: Two people working together have a better chance of solving a problem than one person working alone.

E.g. Come over here and help me balance my checkbook. Two heads are better than one.

9. Pick his brain

Meaning: To obtain ideas or information from someone.

E.g. You should pick John’s brain sometime; he knows all about car engines.

10. Great minds think alike

Meaning: Used when they have the same idea as someone else, to show that they think they are both clever.

E.g. I hear you gave Emma the same present as me — great minds think alike!

11. As far as anyone knows

Meaning: to the limits of anyone’s knowledge.

E.g. As far as anyone knows, this is the last of the great herds of buffalo.

12. To the best of your belief/knowledge

Meaning: As far as you know

E.g. He never made a will, to the best of my knowledge.