Idioms

be none the wiser

be none the wiser

1. To not be aware of something (typically because others have kept it a secret). I came in after curfew last night, but it's OK because I was so quiet that my parents are none the wiser. I did slip into that meeting late, but the boss was none the wiser, thank goodness. I know you're not supposed to take the car out while your Mom's away, but just fill up the tank before she comes back and she'll be none the wiser.

2. To not understand something, even after receiving explanations and information about it. My tutor has explained the quadratic equation to me many times, but I'm still none the wiser. I've read the manual twice, but I'm still none the wiser as to how this is supposed to work. A: "Why are you smacking the TV?" B: "After reading a bunch of stuff online, I was none the wiser about how to fix the picture, so I figured smacking it was worth a shot."

See also: none, wiser

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be none (or not any) the wiser

know no more than before.

See also: none, wiser

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

be none the ˈwiser/ˈno wiser

,

not be any the ˈwiser

1 not understand something, even after it has been explained to you: I’ve read the instructions, but I’m still none the wiser.
2 not know or find out about something bad that somebody has done: If you put the money back, no one will be any the wiser.

See also: no, none, wiser

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

See also:

References in periodicals archive

An offender can, if they want, go to another part of the country and commit another offence and we will be none the wiser.

Forces overwhelmed by cutbacks

If she said no, he wasn't going to tell her where the ring was, so when he comes out of prison the ring is still there for him to collect and she would be none the wiser.

l I'VE got a "could[...]

"An average fan in the street may be none the wiser by what is revealed.

New league rules may not solve Leeds United ownership riddle

If it turned out that these were entirely made up bands and it was all an elaborate joke being played on me by the music industry, I would honestly be none the wiser.

Now I have to wait what will inevitably be a few weeks while the matter is resolved (which my bank tells me it will be, once they have sent me the necessary forms, etc), but had I not bothered to check, or kept the slips, I would be none the wiser and BD200 worse off!

If she had sore legs, aching feet or a bilious stomach, we'd be none the wiser.

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