I haven't a notion (an idea, a clue). I have no idea (no­tion).

How much they could earn earnestly? I haven't the slightest idea. (H. W.) Lady Plymdale. Who is that well-dressed woman talking to Windermere?

Dumby. Haven't got the slightest idea. (0. W.) I've got an idea you're trying to tell me some­thing but I haven't the faintest idea what it is. (A. Chr.)

What on earth you are serious about I haven't got the remotest idea. (0. W.) I haven't the vaguest idea where to start. (M. W.) "You did not know he was coming?" "I had not the least idea of it." "And have you no idea why he came?" (A. Chr.) I still hadn't the vaguest notion what I was going to do... (J. P.)

1 hadn't the faintest notion what all this was about. (S. M.)

I had no idea he was in Egypt... (A. Chr.) "What was his name?" "I haven't a notion." (A. Chr.)

To be (completely) in the dark (about something) means the same thing.

"You and Miss Howard seem to know what you are talking about, " I observed coldly. "Perhaps you don't realize that I am still in the dark." (A. Chr.)

...there certainly were one or two points on which we were a little in the dark. (B. Sh.) Damn it all, man, two murders, and we're still in the dark. (A. Chr.)

Iwouldn't know is also used to express ignorance of fact but implies / cannot really be expected to know,

"Did he go to see General The?"

"I wouldn't know." (Gr. Gr.)

"You don't know if Mr. Smith telephoned?"

"I wouldn't know, inspector." (V. L.)

"He was brilliant. What about his private life?"

Grant waited. "I wouldn't know." (A. Der.)

Ask me another! and Search me! admit complete ignorance but are a bit too colloquial for general use.

"Bill, " the Economic Attache said, "we want

to know who Mick is." "Search me." (Gr. Gr.)

"How come no one is there looking after them?"

Roy asked.

"Search me, " Moose said.... (J. Ald.)

Mrs. Jan Byl gripped Connie's arm. "What's

that?" she asked. "Ask me another, " Connie

answered. (N. C.)

"Are you one of them, Fleur?" "Ask me another."

(J. G.).

Other colloquial phrases expressing ignorance, especially ignorance of technique (not knowing how), are: it's beyond me; it's got me beaten.

The expression of her personality through the room, the conviction that she knew things which were beyond him, confounded him. (A. C.)

Have a look at this patent tin-opener, will you? It's got me beaten. I can't see how it works. (W. B.)

Ignorance of a particular subject is colloquially expressed thus:

It's (all) Greek (double Dutch) to me. — I can't un­derstand it.

Tell him I don't know what he is talking about.
It's double Dutch to me. (A. Chr.)

If only he could have understood the doctor's
jargon, the medical niceties,... but they were
Greek to him — like a legal problem to a layman.
(J. G.)

I'm out of my depth. (i.e. I can't understand the subject.)

Now I am quite out of my depth. I usually am •• when Lord Illingworth says anything. (O. W.) It's a funny thing, I'm afraid I got beyond my depth in it, but my intentions were good. (J. L.)

A fat lot you know! means You don't know anything at all!

His brogue! A fat lot you know about brogues! (B. Sh.)

I've lost my way (my bearings) admits ignorance of direction or locality.

"Where'll he come up?" asked Steevens. "I've lost my bearings." (H. W.) If you've lost your way, the lift is the third on the right. (A. C.)

I don't know my way around is similarly used. Colloquial phrases for not to know a person are: not to know him from Adam (not to know her from Eve)

A Mr. Withers — whom she did not know from Adam — having learned by some hook or crook

where she resided, bowed himself politely in.

(Th. D.)

"You are making some mistake, sir, " said he

eyeing the stranger as if he did not know him

from Adam. (J. F.)

"Do your people know the woman?" "Not from

Eve." (V. L.)

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