none the wiser
Not at all aware of something that has happened; oblivious to an incident or occurrence.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I hid the broken vase, and he is none the wiser.”
“You can wear a wig and your coworkers will be none the wiser.”
“I use a different email address so my bank is none the wiser.”
“She changed the settings on his computer, but he remained none the wiser about who had done it.”
“The chef replaced the expensive butter with a cheaper brand, but the customers at the restaurant were none the wiser during dinner.”
“We organized a secret party in the office breakroom, and our manager walked right past the door none the wiser.”
“Despite the subtle alterations made to the official report, the committee members remained none the wiser regarding the true source of the data.”
Derived from the combination of the adverb *none* and the adjective *wise* to indicate a lack of increased understanding. Its structure follows the established English pattern of using *none the* before a comparative adjective to denote a failure to achieve a state of greater knowledge.
- 01
bar none
Without exception; excluding nothing else of the same kind.
- 02
Buckley's and none
A supposed two chances (probabilities), being Buckley's chance (meaning a very small chance) or no chance at all.
- 03
have none of something
To be completely unwilling to accept or support something.
- 04
it's none of your business
It's a matter (especially a private or personal one) that you are not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
- 05
jack of all trades, master of none
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
- 06
none of someone's business
A matter (especially a private or personal one) that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
- 07
none other than
Used to qualify a person whose eminence may be more than one would expect in the given situation.
- 08
penny wise and pound foolish
Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful with large amounts.
Last updated August 10, 2026