All Greek to me

Meaning

The idiom "all Greek to me" means that something is so difficult or unfamiliar to me that I cannot understand it or make sense of it. It is a figurative expression used to express confusion or ignorance about a particular topic.

Usage

• I tried to read the instructions for this machine, but everything was in technical jargon and all Greek to me.
• She asked me a question about history, but I had no clue where to start because it was all Greek to me.
• When I went to Paris, I was overwhelmed by the language barrier and felt like everything was all Greek to me.
• The math problem was so complex that even my friend, who's really good at math, couldn't understand it - it was all Greek to him.
• My colleague asked for my opinion on the company strategy, but I had no idea what he was talking about - it was all Greek to me.

Roots and History

The idiom "all Greek to me" dates back to at least the 14th century. It is derived from a phrase used in medieval English literature, which means that something is so difficult or unfamiliar that it might as well be written in ancient Greek. The use of Greek language in literature during this period was common, and the phrase "all Greek to me" was often used to express confusion or ignorance. Over time, the phrase evolved into an idiom that refers to anything that is difficult or unfamiliar to someone. Today, it is a widely used expression that is understood by people all over the world.

Synonyms in English

• Beyond my ken
• Greek to me
• Go figure
• No clue
• None of my business

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Más allá de mi conocimiento"
• French: "Plus que je ne comprends pas"
• German: "Für mich ein Geheimnis"
• Italian: "Da vero, non capisco"
• Chinese: "不知道" (bù zhě duō)

Similar Idioms

• a burnt child dreads the fire

• absence makes the heart grow fonder

• a bit much