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Vocabulary: avoid saying: I don't know!

For an adult, saying: "I don't know..." isn't an easy thing! Why is it so? Because it's never pleasant to have to admit that you don't know what you should have known   or at least what you should have tried to know... especially when you're an "expert" or if you are in the business world... Consequently, adults "pretend" they know, they improvise an answer... and might be mistaken. They might even deceive their audience, or at least mislead a less informed audience.

On the contrary, children are often hiding behind  the phrase : "I don't know!"; for them, it is the utmost excuse. They often implicitly, (or even quite explicitly  ) declare that adults are responsible for the kids' lack of knowledge... " You've never taught me that, have you?"  (What a shock!  )

In short, this little sentence is so difficult to pronounce (or to avoid!) that there are many different ways to get around it without admitting "inexcusable" ignorance, lack of professionalism/ unprofessionalism and pure inexperience!  

I) The ALL-PURPOSE phrases: you don't know the answer, but you're not going to "pretend" and humbly admit your ignorance! 

II) "I don't know" when you should know... you may feel guilty not to know, are interested in the information and willing to look into it. 

 - I'm not sure. I'll find out and let you know. 

- I'll look into it and get back to you.  

- It's a good question! Let me get back to you.

- I'll find out and will let you know.

- Err... That requires a little more searching! 

- I'm going to investigate that point further.

III) When you're not dealing with your area of expertise:

- Here's what I know/ what I don't know..., but Jack will have your information ! 

- I'm not the best person to answer that question. You should ask/ I recommend talking to Tom!

- I'm not a 100% sure of that! 

- Patrick will have a better insight into this!

- Let me check/ double-check on that! 

IV) If the question "only sort of makes sense": you wish to clarify the context.

- Can you give me more context, please?

- Well, can you tell me what's driving this question? 

- (humour) If we knew that, we could all quit our jobs! 

- (with a playful look!) If only I knew that... It's privileged information. I have no access.

- Really, I'm no expert, and I'm not sure I understand, but we'll ask a colleague.

- In fact, you know, I have the same question on my mind. We might try to ask a third person.

- (Less polite ... irritated, sarcastic!) How should I know? / Don't ask me! I'm new here! / (informal) Search me! I really can't tell.

- (Wishful thinking) I'd love to know, but really I haven't looked at that yet .

V) In a very informal context...(between young people, etc.)

- Search me!/ It beats me!/ Who knows?/ Heck if I know!/ I'm stuck/ I'm stumped!

- Your guess is as good as mine.

- (really rude) = I couldn't care less!/ Who cares? 

Many different expressions, then! You'll definitely have to make a choice!    

Important advice to conclude: if you're not sure of your answer, don't pretend you do. Simply admit your "ignorance", knowing very well that "Nobody's perfect! and knows everything!". Let's not forget that some questions simply cannot be answered! 

Good luck for the test... I'm sure that there, "you'll know everything"!    

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1. 'The present population of Greater London? Errr, could you give me more contextit's a good questionI'm the best person to answerI don't know... I’ll look it up and will come back to you asap... '


2. 'Well, I think so... I'm not a hundred percent sure of thatI'm the best person to answerIf only I knew thatI don't know. Don’t worry, I’ll check...'


3. 'Could I have an appointment with Doctor Pierce, please?' ' Let me checkI'm not the one to answerIt's a good questionI don't know! Yes, I can give you one next Monday at 10 or at 11, as you like.'


4. 'Complementary information about quantum Physics? I’m afraid It's a good questionHow should I know?I'm not the best person to answerI don't know... You should ask Trevor...'


5. ' Our new prototype? On the American market? Could you give me more contextIf only I knew thatHow should I know?I don't know... It'd be great! Yet, I can’t be informed about the date, it’s privileged information, and I have no access...'


6. 'Err? How should I know?I'm not the person to answerCould you give me more contextI don't know, please? I might be able to help...'


7. 'No,Lucy, I’m sorry but I can’t tell you where you left your Teddy... Could you give me more contextI'm not the person to answerHow should I knowI don't know ? You take it everywhere and might have left it anywhere too...'


8. 'Of course not! could you give me more contextthat's not a good questionI'm not an expertI don't know and can’t solve this Rubik’s cube puzzle faster than you! Ask your Dad while I revise my algorithms...'


9. 'Speaking about the principles of Nietzsche’s philosophy, would really require a little more searchinghow should I knowI'm not sureI don't know from me... I must admit I ' don’t know much ' about it...'


10. ' That? how do I knowI'm not sureI'm no expertsI don't know... but what I DO know is that you never stop asking unanswerable questions! '