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An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.

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  #11  
Old August 04, 2008, 06:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfonso View Post
What about what do I know? Does it imply the same as yo qué sé?
What do I know ?is (as far as I know) is ¿Qué sé yo? which I suppose
means ¿yo qué sé?
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  #12  
Old August 04, 2008, 08:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
What do I know ?is (as far as I know) is ¿Qué sé yo? which I suppose
means ¿yo qué sé?
I think Alfonso is asking a question about register not about meaning. In a certain way,when you say What do I know? you are metaphorically trying to get rid of the person who asked you or to elude responsibility and depending on context and intonation it might not be too polite.
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Old August 04, 2008, 09:41 AM
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I agree.......it's as if saying "what do I know" followed by "I'm only the......."

Sometimes when students argue with their teacher the teacher may respond....

"What do I know, I'm only the teacher."

Of course, the comment is usually made with sarcasm.
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Old August 04, 2008, 03:06 PM
Alfonso Alfonso is offline
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Thanks a lot you all. It's clear now. I guess what do I know is a common expression as it is qué sé yo, meaning the same, as much semantically as pragmatically (effect on the interlocutor).
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