English to Tagalog Phrase 1
Idioms and Expressions - Know

The following English to Tagalog phrases translate the uses of the preposition 'know'. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help in understanding these common idiomatic expressions with 'know'.

be in the know
Definition: have inside knowledge about a situation

• Talk to Tim. He's in the know.
  
• Are you in the know about the current crisis?
  

*May nalalaman (formal); May alam (usual conversation)

• Kausapin mo si Tim. Mayroon siyang alam (object implied)
  
• May alam ka ba tungkol sa kasalukuyang krisis?
  

know the score
Definition: understand the facts about a situation

Please stop making excuses. I know the score and I know you are to blame.

*Alam ang sitwasyon (literal translation); Hindi ako bulag - (interpretive -idiomatic)

• Alam ko ang sitwasyon. Huwag mo akong linlangin.
• Hindi ako bulag. Huwag mo akong lokohin.
  
• Huwag ka nang magdahilan. Alam ko ang sitwasyon at alam kong ikaw ang dapat sisihin.
  
• Huwag ka nang magpalusot. Hindi ako bulag at alam kong ikaw ang may kasalanan.

know-how
Definition: understanding of how a task should be done

• I'd call technical support and ask someone with the know-how.
  
• Do you have the know-how to upgrade our servers?
  

*May kaalaman [referring to skill]; Marunong [referring to know-how]

• Tatawagan ko yung teknikal support kung meron dung may kaalaman diyan. [contractions are often employed in conversations]
  
• Tatawag ako sa teknikal support at itatanong ko kung sino ang nakakaalam tungkol diyan [interpretive-dynamic]
  
• Tatawag ako sa teknikal support at hihingi ako ng tulong sa nakakaalam tungkol diyan. [interpretive-dynamic]
  
• May kaalaman ka ba tungkol sa pag-upgrade ng server namin?
  
• Marunong ka bang mag-upgrade ng server?
  

know better
Definition: have knowledge about how one should behave

• You know better than to do that!
  
• I wish he had acted differently. He certainly knew better!
  

*Hindi naman bobo/tanga/sira-ulo (colloquial) [negative form is more often used in conversation]
Mas matalino kaysa – positive form needs a context

• Hindi ka naman bobo, bakit mo ginawa yun? [question format – dynamic translation]
  
• Siguro naman matalino ka kaya di mo dapat ginawa yun. [dynamic translation]
  
• Sana lang hindi ganon ang ginawa niya, hindi naman siya bobo. [negative form –dynamic translation]
  
• Sana lang hindi ganon ang ginawa niya, matalino naman siya. [positive form – dynamic translation]
  

know the tricks of the trade
Definition: possess the skills and knowledge to be successful in a particular task

• Let's ask Tom. He knows all the tricks of the trade.
  
• I think we need to bring in a specialist who knows the tricks of the trade.
  

*Nakakaalam ng sikreto [plus specific object] – literal translation

• Tanungin natin si Tom. Alam niya ang lahat ng sikreto niyan. [specify object]
  
• Sa palagay ko’y kailangan natin ng espesyalista na alam ang sikreto niyan. [specify object]
  

know one's ABCs
Definition: to understand and be capable of doing the basics

• I don't think he should do this. He doesn't even know his ABCs.
  
• Do you know the ABCs of programming?
  

*Alam ang sunod-sunod (dynamic translation)

• Sa palagay ko, hindi niya dapat gawin ito. Ni hindi nya nga alam kung ano ang sunod-sunod na gagawin.
  
• Alam mo ba ang sunod-sunod ng programming?
  

know someone or something like a book
Definition: completely understand someone or something

• She knows Jerry like a book.
  
• I think Peter knows the Johnson account like a book. Ask him.
  

*Kilalang-kilala (dynamic translation); basang-basa; Alam na alam; walang maitatago (idiomatic)

• Kilalang kilala niya si Jerry.
  
• Basang-basa niya si Jerry. (literal and idiomatic)
• Walang maitatago sa kanya si Jerry. Kilalang-kilala niya ito. (dynamic emphasis)
• Sa palagay ko ay alam na alam ni Peter ang tungkol sa Johnson account. Tanungin mo siya.
  

know someone by sight
Definition: be able to recognize someone

• I know Peter by sight. I'll go to the airport.
  
• Do you know Mary by sight?
  

*Makikilala agad kapag nakita (dynamic translation)

• Makikilala ko agad si Pedro kapag nakita ko siya sa airport.
  
• Makikilala mo ba agad si Mary kapag nakita mo siya?
  

know something from memory
Definition: have something memorized
She knows the piece from memory.

• Can you sing "New York, New York" from memory?
  

*Saulado ; Saulo (exact equivalent)

• Saulado niya ang piece (needs to identify the piece )
  
• Saulo mo ba ang “New York, New York?” Makakanta mo ba?
  

know something inside out
Definition: have complete knowledge of something

• Susan is the expert. She knows this stuff inside out.
  
• Let me do it. I know this inside out.
  

*Alam na alam

• Si Susan ang eksperto diyan. Alam na alam niya ang tungkol diyan. (dynamic translation)
  
• Ako ang gagawa. Alam na alam ko ‘to (dynamic translation)
  

• We need to bring somebody in who knows the ropes.
  
• I've never used Linux so I really don't know the ropes of installation.
  

*Alam ang pasikut-sikot (dynamic and idiomatic)

• Kailangan natin ang tulong ng isang taong alam ang pasikut-sikot.
  
• Hindi ko pa nagagamit kahit kailan ang Linux kaya hindi ko talaga alam ang pasikut-sikot ng pagi-instol.
  

Also used in more formal, literary constructions : batid

• Hindi ako bulag, batid ko ang katotohanan. (I'm not blind. I know the truth)

english to tagalog phrase used in letters