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it's all Greek to me

idiom
Meaning

I don't understand any of it; it makes no sense.


Origin

disputed origin

First quoted as it was Greek to me in Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, possibly translated from a sentence in Medieval Latin.

Examples
SIMPLE

I tried to read the manual, but it's all Greek to me.

CONTEXTUAL

My professor explained the new physics theory for an hour, but honestly, it's all Greek to me.

COMPLEX

Although the legal document was written in my native language, the complex terminology meant that it was all Greek to me.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all it's cracked up to be

    As good as claims or reputation would suggest.

  2. 02

    bubble

    [Cockney slang]Greek

  3. 03

    Greek calends

    A time that never occurs; never; when pigs fly.

  4. 04

    if it's all the same

    If it makes no difference; if nobody minds; if it doesn't bother anyone.

  5. 05

    it's about time

    Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer has deemed to be long overdue.

  6. 06

    it's all good

    Used to express unconcern.

  7. 07

    it's early days

    Indicating it is too soon to know the outcome of a situation, often implying it is too early to make a judgment or prediction.

  8. 08

    it's five o'clock somewhere

    Used as an excuse for drinking alcoholic beverages outside of customary hours.

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