you know
intjUK /juː nəʊ/ · US /ju noʊ/
Etymology First attested as a filled pause in the early 18th century, as a euphemism in the mid-19th century.
1
Informal Expression signifying a pause or hesitation.
- I don’t usually get nervous in games and, you know, taking free kicks and penalties but that’s the first time I’ve been that nervous in, in a game, where I have to, I’m in a situation where I’m, you know […]2002 December 15, “Interview with David Beckham”, in Breakfast with Frost, spoken by David Beckham, via BBC:
- Once, I remember, I was watching the twins on a trampoline, you know, and they looked so beautiful, and I was happy because they were happy, you know.2013, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight (motion picture), spoken by Jesse (Ethan Hawke):
2
Informal Expression used to imply meaning, rather than say it, such as when a person is embarrassed.
- A: I can’t go to the party because... you know... B: Your mom is still mad at you, huh? A: Yeah...
3
Informal Used as a rhetorical question to confirm agreement, knowing or understanding at the end of a statement.
- But I guess that's life, you know?
- I just wasn't into it, you know?
2 more examples
- This was already a fresh departure for me. I was not used to get things that way, you know.1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 198:
- "I heard Winnie the Pooh was like garlic to a vampire to the Chinese commies," he said. "Popular arts and music, poetry, dancing and singing is a threat to those in power, and I'm really trying to bring back that rock-and-roll rebellious spirit into music, you know."2024 January 29 [2024 January 26], Tim Lee, Ray Chung, quoting Brendan Kavanagh, “London YouTuber hid in van, received death threats after piano face-off”, in Luisetta Mudie, transl., Radio Free Asia, archived from the original on 29 Jan 2024:
4
Informal Used to introduce information.
- You know, he's actually pretty nice.
- Tali: You know, there's always a few who go on their Pilgrimages and never return. I always assumed something bad happened to them, but maybe they just wanted a different life.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Engineering, SSV Normandy:
5
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see you, know.
- Synonyms
- right, like, er, erm, um, you see, do you know what I'm saying, you know what I'm saying, eh, don't you know
- Related terms
- if you know what I mean, if you know, you know, what do you know, wouldn't you know it, you know it, you-know-what, you know what, you know what I mean, you-know-who, you never know