Not know shit from shinola
verb phrase
NOT KNOW one’s ASS FROM one’s ELBOW •Often euphemized: a tightfisted banker who doesn’t know what from Shinola/ In high school I didn’t know shoot from Shinola
[1930+; fr Shinola2, a brand of shoe polish; used partly for a suggestion of brown color, mainly for alliteration]
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verb phrase (also Adam’s off ox or from Adam’s house cat)Tobe entirely unacquainted with or uncognizant of: We’re bigger than 90 percent of the companies on the Big Board, but nobody knows us from Adam/ I didn’t know from Adam’s house cat who Nolan Ryan was (entry form 1843+, ox 1890+, cat 1908+) Be unable […]
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Also, not know which way to jump or turn. Have no idea of how to get help or what course to take. For example, With all these offers coming in, he didn’t know where to turn, or When her car was towed, Meg was distraught and did not know which way to jump. The first […]
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