/nɒt hæv ðə ˈfɒɡiɪst/
English idiom, informal. To have no idea at all.
Draft Not yet checked by a native English speaker.
How do people use Not have the foggiest
?
Informal and mostly British, a cheerful way to say you have no clue: “I haven’t the foggiest.” It often ends with “idea” plus a question: “I don’t have the foggiest idea what he meant.” It’s only used in the negative or in questions.
Also said not have the foggiest idea, not have the foggiest notion
Not have the foggiest
in real sentences
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I haven’t the foggiest.
Tatoeba, sentence by papabear, CC BY 2.0 FR
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I haven’t the foggiest idea.
Tatoeba, sentence by darinmex, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Not have the foggiest
come from?
English Wiktionary gives no origin or date. “Foggy” has long meant vague or confused, so the foggiest idea is the faintest, blurriest one, and having not even that means having nothing at all.
Mistakes learners make with Not have the foggiest
Learners say “I have the foggiest idea” meaning they’re confused. Without “not” it means you do know, so keep the negative.
Other English idioms like Not have the foggiest
Spot a mistake in Not have the foggiest
?
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