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Knowledge & Understanding - Expertise

Explore English idioms regarding expertise with examples like "get the hang of" and "tricks of the trade".

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English idioms related to Knowledge & Understanding
to [get] the hang of {sth}

to learn how something works or how to use it

Ex: Give him a little time; he'll get the hang of the job.
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to [know] {one's} stuff

to be very knowledgeable about or skillful in a particular field of work

Ex: He talks quietly, but he really knows his stuff when it comes to finance.
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[show|teach] {sb} the ropes

to show or teach someone how a particular job or task is done

Ex: She doesn't need much supervision now; we showed her the ropes last week.
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to [know] the ropes

to have a good knowledge or understanding about how to do something or how something works

Ex: It took me a while to know the ropes at the new school.
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to [learn] the ropes

to become acquainted with or knowledgeable about how to do a certain job or task

Ex: They gave me small tasks at first while I learned the ropes.
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old hand
old hand
[noun]

(of a person) having extensive knowledge about or a lot of experience in a particular activity or job

Ex: The project looks difficult , but we 'll be fine with an old hand like Omar leading it .
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a nose for {sth}

one's ability to find things of a particular type to suit one's needs

Ex: If you need a rare book, ask Theo; he has a nose for that sort of thing.
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(strong|strongest) suit
strong suit
[phrase]

something that one is exceptionally good at

Ex: Organization is not our team's strongest suit, so we hired a project manager.
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past master

an expert in a particular field with a great deal of experience

Ex: The company brought in a past master of crisis management .
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to [turn] {one's} hand to {sth}

to start something, such as an activity, field of study, etc., in an skillful way

Ex: She had never written music before, but she turned her hand to it with surprising ease.
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to [carry] a tune

to produce correct musical sounds by one's voive voice

Ex: You don't have to be perfect; just try to carry a tune.
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jack of all trades

a person who is competent in many different tasks

Ex: Being a jack of all trades helped him survive when work was hard to find.
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of the first water

(of a person) with exceptional skill or talent in a particular area or field, to the point of being considered an example of excellence

Ex: Only a negotiator of the first water could have saved that deal.
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worth {one's} salt

used to describe a competent person who performs their job well and is deserving of respect and the compensation they receive

Ex: Any teacher worth her salt can explain the idea in more than one way.
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to [know] what [is] what

to have a clear understanding or knowledge of a situation or matter

Ex: The report helped us know what was what before the meeting.
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to [know] {one's} onions

to have a great deal of information regarding a particular subject

Ex: She knows her onions, but she never makes other people feel stupid.
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to [keep] {one's} hand in

to practice or engage in an activity only to maintain a skill or ability

Ex: I no longer work as a translator, but I do small projects to keep my hand in.
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tricks of the trade

a set of techniques that are only shared among members of a particular profession

Ex: She picked up the tricks of the trade from older nurses on the ward.
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to [play] by ear

to have the ability to play music by listening to it and recreating the sounds and melodies without relying on sheet music or written notation

Ex: He played the song by ear because there was no sheet music available.
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to [have] Van Gogh's ear for {sth}

to be exceptionally talented and naturally skilled in a particular area

Ex: She has Van Gogh's ear for design, so even her rough sketches look elegant.
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to [get|have] the basics (down|straight|right)

to have the fundamental knowledge or skills that is required

Ex: Don't rush into strategy until you have the basics right.
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to [have] a way with {sb/sth}

to have a natural talent in dealing with a particular type of people or things

Ex: He has a way with difficult clients and somehow makes them feel heard.
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