Phrase guide

little did one know

adv · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

Used to show a relevant fact that is unknown to a person, or that the result or sequence of events differs greatly from what one had expected with the little knowledge he or she had about the situation beforehand.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • I was speaking ill of Fred; little did I know that he was right behind me, listening in.
  • Little did we know, we would be stuck in traffic for hours before finally making it back home.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Portuguese: mal saber — Translations