AEE 2400: I Have No Clue! How to Say You Don't Know in English

Summary

All Ears English Podcast

Episode: AEE 2400: I Have No Clue! How to Say You Don't Know in English
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Release Date: April 30, 2025

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1. Celebrating a Milestone

The episode kicks off with Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan celebrating a significant milestone—Episode 2400 of the All Ears English Podcast. Lindsay exclaims with excitement at [01:33], “2400. Congratulations.” Michelle echoes the sentiment, highlighting their gratitude for reaching such a round number. This celebration sets a joyful tone for the episode, emphasizing their appreciation for the podcast's growth and their listeners' support.

2. Introduction to the Main Topic

The hosts introduce the day’s topic: expressions used to convey uncertainty or lack of knowledge in English. Lindsay mentions, “[...] how can you say that you don't know and maybe even share a connection moment with someone else in English?” at [00:11]. This focus aims to equip listeners with natural phrases to express uncertainty in various contexts, enhancing their conversational skills.

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3. Exploring Expressions for "I Don't Know"

a. "Your Guess is as Good as Mine"

At [03:06], Michelle introduces the expression, explaining its use when both parties are equally clueless:

• Michelle: “Your guess is as good as mine, Michelle, when did you say this?”
• Lindsay: “[...] yes, it’s like you don’t know. You’re guessing and the other person doesn’t know any more than you.”

They perform a role play illustrating its usage in a workplace scenario, emphasizing that it fosters a sense of shared uncertainty:

• Lindsay: “When does the sale end?”
• Michelle: “Your guess is as good as mine.”

b. "Beats Me"

Moving to a more casual phrase, Lindsay presents "Beats me" at [08:11]. This expression is portrayed as informal and widely used among friends:

• Lindsay: “Where is the restaurant?”
• Michelle: “Beats me.”

Michelle reflects on its prevalence, noting it feels a bit dated but remains relevant:

• Michelle: “I think it might be getting a little dated or something. I kind of feel like I’ve heard it more in movies from the 80s and the 90s.”

c. "No Clue"

At [08:54], the hosts introduce "No clue," another common way to express uncertainty:

• Michelle: “What should we get for Ellen’s birthday?”
• Lindsay: “No clue. Let’s look online together now.”

They discuss its historical usage, indicating its enduring presence since the 1980s, and highlight its casual yet effective nature.

d. "I Have No Idea"

Finally, Lindsay presents "I have no idea" at [09:54], describing it as a direct and universally understood phrase:

• Lindsay: “Why hasn’t she called us?”
• Michelle: “I have no idea.”

Michelle praises its neutrality and versatility, suggesting it’s her preferred expression due to its widespread acceptance:

• Michelle: “This would be my go-to. It’s very standard and everywhere.”

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4. Role Plays and Practical Applications

The hosts engage in multiple role plays to demonstrate how these expressions can be seamlessly integrated into conversations:

• Role Play 1: Discussing a sale’s end date

  • Lindsay: “When does the sale end?”
  • Michelle: “Your guess is as good as mine.”

• Role Play 2: Planning for an event’s tablecloths

  • Lindsay: “How many tablecloths do we need for the event?”
  • Michelle: “Your guess is as good as mine.”

• Role Play 3: Collaborating on a project with unclear deadlines

  • Lindsay: “How long did she say we have to complete this?”
  • Michelle: “No clue. A week maybe?”
  • Lindsay: “Your guess is as good as mine.”

These scenarios, particularly at [10:49] and [11:30], showcase how the expressions not only communicate uncertainty but also foster a collaborative atmosphere where both parties acknowledge their shared lack of information.

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5. Contextual Usage and Best Practices

Lindsay and Michelle delve into when and how to appropriately use these expressions:

• Humility and Honesty: Lindsay emphasizes that using these phrases can demonstrate humility, showing that it's okay not to have all the answers ([14:26], Lindsay).

• Avoiding Overuse: They caution against overusing expressions like "Your guess is as good as mine" in professional settings where confidence is essential ([05:42], Lindsay). For instance, an event organizer might need to project competence rather than uncertainty.

• Building Connection: Michelle highlights that "Your guess is as good as mine" has a communal feel, making it ideal for situations where mutual understanding and joint problem-solving are beneficial ([10:22], Michelle).

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6. Personal Insights and Anecdotes

The hosts share personal experiences to illustrate the practical importance of these expressions:

• Michelle’s Experience: At [13:05], Michelle recounts using expressions like "Beats me" and "No clue" during challenging life events, such as dealing with a family member’s passing. She underscores the necessity of these phrases when navigating complex and unfamiliar situations.

• Lindsay’s Perspective: Lindsay adds that admitting uncertainty can prevent the perception of being a "know-it-all," fostering more authentic and honest interactions ([14:11], Lindsay).

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7. Key Takeaways and Conclusion

The episode concludes with several insightful takeaways:

• Embracing Uncertainty: Recognizing that it's natural and acceptable not to have all the answers enhances interpersonal connections and reduces the pressure to be perfect.

• Strategic Usage: Selecting the appropriate expression based on the context ensures effective communication without undermining one’s confidence or authority.

• Continued Learning: The hosts encourage listeners to explore related episodes, such as Episode 2387 on "Eight Different Ways to Use 'Some' in English," to further expand their conversational repertoire.

Lindsay wraps up by reinforcing the podcast’s philosophy of "Connection NOT Perfection," urging listeners to follow and engage with their content for continuous improvement in English proficiency ([15:08], Lindsay).

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Lindsay on Humility: “[...] you don’t want to be that. Know it all, you know, pretending that you know things that you don't. So sometimes it's just, you know, just be honest. You don't know. It's okay.” ([14:11])

• Michelle on Shared Uncertainty: “Your guess is as good as mine” “[...] we are both confused about what we're doing here.” ([12:14])

• Lindsay on Overuse: “[...] if it's something where you have some sort of authority, yes, it's not really a great idea.” ([05:42])

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This episode of All Ears English provides listeners with practical expressions to convey uncertainty, enriched with real-life applications and personal anecdotes. By focusing on authentic communication and mutual understanding, Lindsay and Michelle offer valuable insights that cater to intermediate and advanced English learners aiming to enhance their conversational skills in American English.

Transcript

[A]

This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2400. I have no clue how to say you don't know in English.

[B]

Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection with your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe so many moments in life where we just don't know the answer. How can you say that you don't know and maybe even share a connection moment with someone else In English? Find out. Today, spring savings are in the air. And at Ross where they have savings on all the brands you love, from the latest fashion to outdoor decor and even pet supplies. Savings are in every aisle. Go to ross and save 20 to 60% off other retailers prices on your favorite spring finds. Hello Michelle. Welcome to episode 2400 of Allers English. It's incredible.

[A]

2400. Congratulations. Wow, it's. Yeah, it's crazy when we get to one of those round numbers, right?

[B]

It's amazing and we're lucky that we get to do this every week. I love it. But Michelle, guess what I'm doing this weekend.

[A]

What?

[B]

I'm going hiking.

[A]

Shocking. Oh my God, that is shocking. Are you really? Are you really?

[B]

Probably not. I think I'm going to just gonna do some things around the city this weekend, but yeah. What? Are you going hiking this weekend?

[A]

I'm not, no. I mean, I guess, I guess you. I guess you never know. But yeah, today we're going to talk about a very useful expression with the word guess, right? Because Lindsay said, guess what I'm doing this weekend. Right? So we're gonna get into that in just a second. But guys, we want to remind you, we have this amazing app. If you are not listening through the app, you are missing out. Right, Lindsay?

[B]

Yeah, I know many of our listeners are over there listening to the podcast for free in the app. So you can get the podcast for free, but then you can get more good stuff. As a premium user, you can get real time transcripts right inside the app. You can get bonus content. You can tap on keywords that we've selected for you if you want to save them to your special list. So definitely go over and check out the app. Allears english.comAP all right, good stuff.

[A]

Perfect. All right, so we were using the Word guess. So this expression is. Your guess is as good as mine, Lindsay. Oh, yes.

[B]

Yes. Your guess is as good as mine, Michelle, when did you say this? Did you say this recently?

[A]

Recently? Yeah, recently I said it and then I wrote it down. You know how I do. So, Lindsay, do you. Do you say. I mean, this is such a useful expression, and I think it's definitely good to devote an entire episode to it. Do you use this?

[B]

Yeah, for sure I do. It's. And I use it sometimes when I'm just confused. Something is. I just. I don't know. And. And I. I'm trying to indicate that. You don't know. I don't know. Both a little clueless and I find myself in these situations.

[A]

Yes, exactly. Yeah. It's like you don't know. You'd be guessing and the other person doesn't know any more than you.

[B]

Exactly, exactly. And we're kind of trying to emphasize that fact too. Right. We're both a little clueless. Maybe something is just confusing. Right. So we'll get some context going on for our listeners here. Right.

[A]

All right, here we go. All right.

[B]

All right, here we go. So here's a role play. When does the sale end?

[A]

Your guess is as good as mine.

[B]

We can call and ask. So what you're saying here, you could be saying a little more than just the fact that you don't know when the sale ends. You might be saying the marketing is not good because it's not clear when the sale's over. Right, right, right.

[A]

We could be. We could be looking at a website, and we're trying to figure it out, and there's really not much information. And it's. It can also be used in kind of a funny way of like, well, how would I know?

[B]

Right?

[A]

It's like, why would I know more than you? Right. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

You know, this makes me think of trying to navigate pretty much any government website. Have you ever tried to navigate a government website? It's real difficult. It's real difficult.

[A]

Yes, exactly.

[B]

There's the home page. Your guess is as good as mine.

[A]

Right, right. Right. Here. Here's another mini role play. All right. How many tablecloths we need for the event?

[B]

Your guess is as good as mine.

[A]

Well, what's the count so far?

[B]

So, all right, so this might indicate something. Right. And. And this might indicate that we don't have the event under control. Maybe we don't know how many people are coming. Right. Things are a little chaotic.

[A]

Right, right. I. To me, this expression, it can be kind of humble sounding. It's showing that you don't think you know it all. But how you also don't want to overuse it because it could sound like you're lacking confidence, overuse it. Or. Or maybe that you're always just trying to get answers from others.

[B]

For sure. For sure. I mean, if it's in an area that you should know the thing, you probably don't want to say that. Right? If you are the party organizer for this event with tablecloths, you probably don't want to say your guess is as good as mine. You should probably, even if you don't know, you should try to, I don't know, say it differently so you don't show lack of competence. Right?

[A]

Yes. Yes, exactly. You. You want to. It. It's. It can be. I think it's totally fine to use it when you know for sure that both of you shouldn't know. You're trying to figure out something together. But if it's something where you have some sort of authority, yes, it's not really a great idea.

[B]

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[A]

Yeah. This one is very casual. You could just say, beats me.

[B]

Yeah. I love this one. It's very weird. I always wondered. Yeah, it's strange. So what would we say, Michelle? For example, where is the restaurant?

[A]

Beats me.

[B]

I'll look it up. Yeah. So do you use this one in your daily life, Michelle? Do you find yourself using this one a lot?

[A]

Maybe not as much. Maybe I used to use it more, but it's very common. What about you? Do you use.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, it's common. I don't really. I think it might be a little. Getting a little dated or something. I kind of feel like I've heard it more in movies from the 80s and the 90s. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But this one's not dated for sure.

[A]

This one is not dated. This one is no clue. So it's the same thing as saying, I. Well, I. I just gave a. I'm about to give another expression away, but we'll get to that. All right. So no clue. It's. I don't know. Here we go. What should we get for Ellen's birthday?

[B]

No clue. Let's look online together now. I remember first hearing this when I was a kid. So it has been used easily since the 80s, if not before that. But I remember thinking, that sounds so cool. Right. I don't know why I thought that, but I. It sounds so cool.

[A]

My kind of fun. It is. It does have a kind of fun sound to it. Clue, clue. It's no clue.

[B]

I have no clue. But it's. It's lasted. You know, some phrases last through the decades and some phrases become dated, and this is one that's still carrying on, so. Permission to use. Right.

[A]

Love it. I'm gonna actually take out this next one because I don't like it, but we're gonna do one more. It's. It's. I have no idea. This is just very direct.

[B]

Very standard. Very standard. Right. Why hasn't she called us?

[A]

I have no idea.

[B]

And you know the cool thing about this one? It's very standard. It's everywhere. This would be my go to. But you can put a lot of energy behind this, in your voice, in your tone of voice. Right, Michelle?

[A]

Yeah. I would say this is the most neutral, the most. I would say this is the most common, actually. I have no idea.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, there are so many moments in life where we just don't know. We don't know what's going on.

[C]

We.

[B]

We don't know the answer.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So we need different ways to say this. Okay.

[A]

Right, right, right. And as your guess is as good as mine, I think it has mo the most kind of community feel to it. Right. The other ones are more, you know, just isolated, individual. I don't know. Right. Beats me. No clue. I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine. Kind of brings the other person into it as well. So.

[B]

Yes, Yes. I love that your guess is as good as mine. Let's do a role play, shall we, Michelle?

[A]

Let's do it. All right, so here we are, friends working together on a project.

[B]

Okay, here we go.

[A]

Okay. So which graph should we use?

[B]

Beats me. The third one.

[A]

Yeah, that's probably good. How long did she say we have to complete this?

[B]

Again, no clue. A week maybe?

[A]

I think so.

[B]

Why only a week? This is a huge project.

[A]

Your guess is as good as mine.

[B]

Seems unfair.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Okay, nice. So we. We use a few of these here. Right. So you asked, okay, so which graph should we use? And what did I say, Michelle?

[A]

You said, beats me. The third one. So you're like, I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, I don't know. Right. And then you said, how long did she say we have to complete this? And you. And I said what?

[A]

You said, no clue. A week.

[B]

Yeah. No clue. Well, clearly, we're both. We're both. Yeah, we're confused about what we're doing here. Right.

[A]

Very confused. We should talk to somebody about this.

[B]

Maybe we're, you know, for example, someone's gone on vacation and we're taking over their job, taking over their work or something. Right. This feels like we're a little out of our wheelhouse here, Right?

[A]

Yes, exactly. And then so we as we realize it's just a week, and you say, why only a week? This is a huge project. And then what did you say? What did I say?

[B]

Your guess is as good as mine. And also, it sounds like within our organization, there's not very good communication between the employees and the management level in terms of why deadlines are set in a certain way. So that's not good.

[A]

No, no. Hopefully. Hopefully this situation gets fixed.

[B]

So that worked on for sure. Michelle, what's another episode our listeners could check out?

[A]

All right. Check out episode 2387. That was eight different ways to use some in English.

[B]

I love it. And I think for a takeaway, there are a lot of moments in life where we're just clueless. Like, we're just confused. We just don't have the answer. And it's good to be able to kind of commiserate with someone and share that being lost or being confused or share that. You don't know. And maybe they know. We need this. Oh, at least I find there's a lot of times when I don't know the answer. I don't know about you, Michelle.

[A]

I know all the answers. No, I don't know any. No, I. No, no, I know, you know, especially when it's a. In a situation that I am not knowledgeable about at all, you know, or sometimes just that intuition. Sometimes it's. That's just that, like it might. Might not be about a specific field or topic, but just kind of a life situation or.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Yes. As you get into your 30s and 40s, there are all these life things that come up. Like when I had to deal with my. When my aunt passed away. And we're dealing with all the things that happen when a family member passes away. I feel like for the last two years, I've just been constantly saying, beats me, beats me. I. I don't know how to do this. How do I call this? Government agency, deal with this thing, do that, file for this. There's no rule book for life. Right. No one hands you a book and says, here's what to do when a family member passes away. Here's what to do when you want to do this. No, half the time we're just. We're just figuring things out. Right. So we are going to need this a lot. This is a useful skill for our listeners, right?

[A]

Yeah, exactly. And I also think that it's. It shows, I don't know, a degree of humility to be okay, you know, you don't want to be that. Know it all, you know, pretending that you know things that you don't. So sometimes it's just, you know, just be honest. You don't know. It's okay.

[B]

And it's a good perspective because I feel like they say that the more you know, like, the smarter you know, the more you realize you don't know anything because you see how much more there is to learn and to know. Does that make sense?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. When you don't know much, you think you know everything, kind of. Because you don't know what else there is out there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You don't have a full perspective.

[A]

Right.

[B]

What. How.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Huge the universe is how much there is to learn.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyways, super interesting. Getting good stuff.

[B]

Yeah. Getting deep as always. All right, Michelle. Good stuff, guys. Hit the follow button if you love our style of connection, not perfection and a focus on showing you how to connect in every moment and why it matters. All right. Good stuff.

[A]

All right, see. Well, thanks for chatting about this with me today. And guys, we'll see you in the next one.

[B]

All right, talk to you soon.

[A]

Bye bye.

[B]

Thanks for listening. To all ears. English Would you like to know your English level? Take our 2 minute quiz, go to allearsenglish.com fluency score and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[C]

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