To know little to nothing about something means to basically know nothing about it.

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https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/little%20or%20nothing


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little to nothing

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DynamicSeoMember

Korea, KimhaeKorean

Hello you guys,

I am actually learnning Englih in Korea, somehow I found out " little to nothing" quite unusual to me. please refer to below sentence

I know little to nothing about~~

I think it is a kind of idiom but isn't listed up dictionary.

Is " little to nothing " generally usded in states or the British?
If yes, Please let me know the meaning of "little to nothing"

Feb 4, 2009

#1

PidginboySenior Member

India-Local dialect

'Little' in this context means very negligible quantity, although it means absolute nothing. 'Nothing', of course, in this means zero or complete absence.

Feb 4, 2009

#2



TheAmzngTwinWndrSenior Member

California, USAUnited States

To know little to nothing about something means to basically know nothing about it. Basically, it means 'I know very little about that, so much so, actually, that I basically know nothing'.

Feb 4, 2009

#3

DynamicSeoMember

Korea, KimhaeKorean

Pidginboy said: ↑

'Little' in this context means very negligible quantity, although it means absolute nothing. 'Nothing', of course, in this means zero or complete absence.


Thank for your answer, But I would like to know the meaning or implication of phrase " little to nothing", not each word.

Feb 4, 2009

#4



TheAmzngTwinWndrSenior Member

California, USAUnited States

It is basically a fancy way of saying you know nothing about a topic.

Feb 4, 2009

#5

DynamicSeoMember

Korea, KimhaeKorean

TheAmzngTwinWndr said: ↑

It is basically a fancy way of saying you know nothing about a topic.


Very thanks for your attention.
If so, is this phrase a formal idiom shown up at dictionary in common currency or a kind of slang ?

IN korea, infortunately we can not see it in the dictionary published here

thanks in advance for your help 

Feb 4, 2009

#6

DimclSenior Member

British Columbia, CanadaCanadian English

It's a set phrase that English-speakers have been using for a very long time. Its meaning is the same as another set phrase which is "I know next to nothing...". We also say "I know little or nothing..."

They all mean that our knowledge of the subject is very, very limited (a little bit to nothing at all).

Feb 4, 2009

#7

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