unfamiliar

unfamiliar territory

A situation or circumstance that is foreign, unclear, or unfamiliar and which may be dangerous or difficult as a result. We're starting to get into unfamiliar territory exploiting these tax loopholes. If we aren't careful, the government may crack down on us hard! John has always kept himself closed off from family members, so his real feelings have been unfamiliar territory for all of us.

See also: territory, unfamiliar

unfamiliar waters

A situation or circumstance that is foreign, unclear, or unfamiliar and which may be dangerous or difficult as a result. We're starting to get into unfamiliar waters exploiting these tax loopholes. If we aren't careful, the government may crack down on us hard! John has always kept himself closed off from family members, so his real feelings have been unfamiliar waters for all of us.

See also: unfamiliar, water

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

unfamiliar territory

an area of knowledge unknown to the speaker. We are in unfamiliar territory and I don't know the answer. Astronomy is unfamiliar territory for me, and I cannot answer any questions about the stars.

See also: territory, unfamiliar

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.