Knowledge is powerful, but describing what we know—or how we learn—can feel limited with ordinary words. Idioms for knowledge bring life, color, and nuance to your expressions, helping you communicate ideas, wisdom, and understanding more vividly.
In this article, you’ll discover phrases that make your language sharper, more engaging, and memorable.
Best Idioms for Knowledge
1. Learn the Ropes
Meaning: To gain knowledge or understanding of how something works.
In a Sentence:
She’s learning the ropes of her new job quickly.
He took time to learn the ropes before leading the team.
Other Ways to Say: Get the hang of, Master the basics, Understand the process
2. Knowledge Is Power
Meaning: Having knowledge gives you an advantage or control.
In a Sentence:
She believes knowledge is power in negotiations.
Knowledge is power when you’re prepared for the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Information empowers, Wisdom is strength, Know-how rules
3. Pick His Brain
Meaning: To ask someone for their knowledge or insights.
In a Sentence:
I want to pick his brain about coding techniques.
She picked her mentor’s brain for career advice.
Other Ways to Say: Tap into expertise, Seek insights, Get advice
4. Two Heads Are Better Than One
Meaning: Collaboration yields better knowledge or solutions than working alone.
In a Sentence:
Let’s work together; two heads are better than one.
Two heads are better than one for solving this puzzle.
Other Ways to Say: Teamwork improves results, Collective wisdom, More minds, better ideas
5. Can’t Make Heads or Tails of
Meaning: To be unable to understand or make sense of something.
In a Sentence:
I can’t make heads or tails of this technical manual.
He couldn’t make heads or tails of the new policy.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t figure out, Confused by, Baffled by
6. Common Knowledge
Meaning: Information widely known or accepted by many people.
In a Sentence:
It’s common knowledge that exercise boosts health.
Her skills are common knowledge in the office.
Other Ways to Say: General knowledge, Widely known, Public information
7. Go to Your Head
Meaning: To let knowledge or success make you arrogant.
In a Sentence:
Don’t let your new expertise go to your head.
His promotion went to his head, forgetting his roots.
Other Ways to Say: Get conceited, Become arrogant, Let success inflate you
8. Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: To work or study late into the night to gain knowledge.
In a Sentence:
She burned the midnight oil to prepare for the exam.
He’s burning the midnight oil to learn the new system.
Other Ways to Say: Work late, Study hard, Pull an all-nighter
9. Hit the Books
Meaning: To study diligently, especially from books.
In a Sentence:
It’s time to hit the books for finals week.
He hit the books to gain knowledge for the test.
Other Ways to Say: Study hard, Crack the books, Dive into studies
10. Know Better Than to Do Something
Meaning: To have enough knowledge to avoid a mistake.
In a Sentence:
She knows better than to skip the training session.
He knew better than to ignore the expert’s advice.
Other Ways to Say: Be wiser than, Understand not to, Have the sense to avoid
11. Read Between the Lines
Meaning: To understand hidden or implied knowledge in a situation.
In a Sentence:
You need to read between the lines to get her true meaning.
He read between the lines to grasp the unspoken issues.
Other Ways to Say: See the subtext, Understand implicitly, Catch the hint
12. At the Back of One’s Mind
Meaning: Knowledge or thoughts that are present but not actively considered.
In a Sentence:
The deadline was at the back of her mind all week.
He kept the advice at the back of his mind.
Other Ways to Say: Lingering thought, Subconscious knowledge, In the background
13. Best of Knowledge
Meaning: Based on what one knows or believes to be true.
In a Sentence:
To the best of my knowledge, the project is on track.
She acted to the best of her knowledge at the time.
Other Ways to Say: As far as I know, Based on what I know, To my understanding
14. Know the Score
Meaning: To understand the true situation or facts.
In a Sentence:
She knows the score about the company’s challenges.
He quickly learned the score of the new job.
Other Ways to Say: Understand the situation, Get the facts, Be in the know
15. Under Your Belt
Meaning: To have gained experience or knowledge in something.
In a Sentence:
She has years of coding experience under her belt.
With that course under his belt, he’s more knowledgeable.
Other Ways to Say: In your experience, Mastered, Acquired skill
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Confidence That Command Attention
16. Working Knowledge
Meaning: Practical, functional knowledge of a subject.
In a Sentence:
He has a working knowledge of Spanish for travel.
Her working knowledge of software helped the team.
Other Ways to Say: Practical knowledge, Functional understanding, Basic know-how
17. As Far as Anyone Knows
Meaning: Based on the available knowledge or information.
In a Sentence:
As far as anyone knows, the plan is still in place.
She’s the expert, as far as anyone knows.
Other Ways to Say: To the best of our knowledge, As we understand, Based on current info
18. Book Smart
Meaning: Having knowledge gained from studying rather than practical experience.
In a Sentence:
He’s book smart but needs real-world experience.
Her book-smart approach aced the academic tests.
Other Ways to Say: Academic, Studious, Theoretically knowledgeable
19. Brainstorm
Meaning: To generate ideas or knowledge collaboratively.
In a Sentence:
Let’s brainstorm to come up with new solutions.
The team brainstormed to gain fresh knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Ideate, Think creatively, Collaborate on ideas
20. Cross One’s Mind
Meaning: To briefly think of or consider something.
In a Sentence:
The idea crossed her mind while studying.
It never crossed his mind to question the knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Come to mind, Pop into your head, Briefly consider
21. Doing Your Homework
Meaning: Researching or preparing thoroughly to gain knowledge.
In a Sentence:
She did her homework before the big presentation.
Doing your homework pays off in negotiations.
Other Ways to Say: Research thoroughly, Prepare well, Study up
22. Get the Hang of It
Meaning: To learn or understand how to do something.
In a Sentence:
She’s getting the hang of the new software quickly.
He got the hang of it after a few lessons.
Other Ways to Say: Learn the ropes, Master it, Catch on
23. Great Minds Think Alike
Meaning: Intelligent people often have similar ideas or knowledge.
In a Sentence:
We both suggested the same plan—great minds think alike!
Great minds think alike when it comes to innovation.
Other Ways to Say: Like minds align, Smart people agree, Shared brilliance
24. Keep Someone in the Loop
Meaning: To keep someone informed or knowledgeable about something.
In a Sentence:
Keep me in the loop about the project updates.
She kept the team in the loop to share knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Keep informed, Stay updated, Share info
25. Know Your Stuff
Meaning: To be very knowledgeable or skilled in a particular area.
In a Sentence:
She really knows her stuff when it comes to coding.
He knows his stuff and aced the trivia quiz.
Other Ways to Say: Be an expert, Know your onions, Be well-versed
26. Wise Up
Meaning: To become aware or gain knowledge about something.
In a Sentence:
She wised up to the company’s true intentions.
He needs to wise up and learn the facts.
Other Ways to Say: Get informed, Catch on, Become aware
27. Have Your Wits About You
Meaning: To be alert and knowledgeable in a situation.
In a Sentence:
She had her wits about her, answering questions knowledgeably.
He kept his wits about him, showing his knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Stay sharp, Be alert, Think clearly
28. Know the Ins and Outs
Meaning: To have thorough knowledge of a subject or process.
In a Sentence:
She knows the ins and outs of project management.
He’s knowledgeable because he knows the ins and outs.
Other Ways to Say: Know the details, Understand fully, Master the subject
29. A Walking Encyclopedia
Meaning: Someone with vast knowledge on many topics.
In a Sentence:
He’s a walking encyclopedia, full of random facts.
She’s like a walking encyclopedia of history knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Knowledgeable person, Human database, Well-informed
30. Put Two and Two Together
Meaning: To figure something out by combining pieces of knowledge.
In a Sentence:
She put two and two together and solved the mystery.
He put two and two together, using his knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Figure out, Connect the dots, Deduce
31. Know Your Onions
Meaning: To be very knowledgeable or skilled in a specific area.
In a Sentence:
He knows his onions when it comes to finance.
She’s knowledgeable because she knows her onions in design.
Other Ways to Say: Know your stuff, Be an expert, Well-versed
32. Light Bulb Moment
Meaning: A sudden realization or gain of knowledge.
In a Sentence:
She had a light bulb moment about the solution.
His light bulb moment came during the lecture.
Other Ways to Say: Epiphany, Sudden insight, Aha moment
33. In the Know
Meaning: Having inside or specialized knowledge.
In a Sentence:
She’s in the know about the company’s plans.
He’s always in the know, full of insider knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Well-informed, Clued in, Knowledgeable
34. Sharpen Your Mind
Meaning: To improve or enhance your knowledge or mental acuity.
In a Sentence:
Reading daily helps sharpen your mind.
She sharpened her mind with new knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Hone your intellect, Boost knowledge, Stay sharp
35. A Brainwave
Meaning: A sudden, clever idea or piece of knowledge.
In a Sentence:
Her brainwave solved the team’s problem.
He had a brainwave, gaining new knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Bright idea, Stroke of genius, Sudden insight
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Advice That Whisper Life Lessons
36. Know It Like the Back of Your Hand
Meaning: To have thorough and familiar knowledge of something.
In a Sentence:
She knows the city like the back of her hand.
He knows the system like the back of his hand.
Other Ways to Say: Know thoroughly, Be familiar with, Master completely
37. Have a Head for Something
Meaning: To have a natural aptitude or knowledge in a specific area.
In a Sentence:
She has a head for numbers, excelling in math.
He’s got a head for strategy, full of knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Be skilled at, Excel in, Know well
38. Brush Up On
Meaning: To refresh or improve knowledge on a subject.
In a Sentence:
She brushed up on her Spanish before the trip.
He’s brushing up on his coding knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Review, Refresh knowledge, Study again
39. Know the Drill
Meaning: To be familiar with a process or routine.
In a Sentence:
She knows the drill for handling client meetings.
He knows the drill, having done it many times.
Other Ways to Say: Understand the routine, Know the process, Be familiar
40. A Wealth of Knowledge
Meaning: A large amount of knowledge or expertise.
In a Sentence:
Her mentor has a wealth of knowledge about marketing.
He’s a wealth of knowledge on historical facts.
Other Ways to Say: Vast knowledge, Tons of expertise, Deep understanding
41. Crack the Code
Meaning: To gain knowledge or solve a difficult problem.
In a Sentence:
She cracked the code to the software’s issue.
He cracked the code, gaining new knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: Solve the puzzle, Figure out, Break through
42. Have a Clue
Meaning: To have some knowledge or understanding of something.
In a Sentence:
She has a clue about the project’s requirements.
He doesn’t have a clue about the new system.
Other Ways to Say: Know something, Understand, Be aware
43. Be in the Picture
Meaning: To be informed or have knowledge about a situation.
In a Sentence:
She’s in the picture about the team’s plans.
Keep him in the picture so he stays knowledgeable.
Other Ways to Say: Be informed, Stay updated, Know the situation
44. Street Smart
Meaning: Having practical knowledge gained from real-world experience.
In a Sentence:
He’s street smart, navigating challenges with ease.
Her street-smart knowledge helped her succeed.
Other Ways to Say: Worldly-wise, Practical know-how, Savvy
45. Get Up to Speed
Meaning: To gain the necessary knowledge or catch up on information.
In a Sentence:
She got up to speed on the new software quickly.
He needs to get up to speed with the project.
Other Ways to Say: Catch up, Become informed, Learn quickly
46. A Mine of Information
Meaning: Someone or something with a vast amount of knowledge.
In a Sentence:
Her professor is a mine of information on biology.
The book is a mine of information about history.
Other Ways to Say: Wealth of knowledge, Knowledge treasure, Info hub
47. Know Your Way Around
Meaning: To be familiar or knowledgeable about a place or subject.
In a Sentence:
She knows her way around the library’s resources.
He knows his way around coding frameworks.
Other Ways to Say: Be familiar with, Understand well, Navigate easily
48. Think on Your Feet
Meaning: To use quick knowledge or wit to respond in a situation.
In a Sentence:
She thinks on her feet, using her knowledge effectively.
He’s knowledgeable and can think on his feet in debates.
Other Ways to Say: Be quick-witted, Improvise smartly, React fast
49. A Fount of Knowledge
Meaning: A source of abundant knowledge or wisdom.
In a Sentence:
Her teacher is a fount of knowledge on literature.
He’s a fount of knowledge about local history.
Other Ways to Say: Source of wisdom, Knowledge well, Expert resource
50. Clued In
Meaning: To be informed or knowledgeable about something.
In a Sentence:
She’s clued in about the company’s new strategy.
He’s clued in, always up to date with knowledge.
Other Ways to Say: In the know, Well-informed, Aware
Conclusion
Sharing ideas and wisdom is easier when your words carry depth and color. Idioms for knowledge help you express learning, insight, and understanding in ways that feel engaging and memorable. Use these expressions in your conversations to communicate more clearly and leave a lasting impression.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
