What Does “Your Guess Is As Good As Mine” Mean?

People use many idioms and expressions in their day-to-day to express a lot with few words. Idioms can be used in both formal and informal conversations, and their function is to simplify what we want to say, without the need to use fancy words.

The expression “Your guess is as good as mine” is another way of saying that you don’t know the answer to the question that is being asked. And a slightly more literal meaning would be that you don’t know more than the other person does.

Like most phrases that people use daily, this one replaces some expressions that we use when answering a question. For that reason, we must know which are those cases in which we can use and thus listen to ourselves more fluently when speaking.

What Is The Origin Of This Idiom?

The truth is that its exact origin of this expression is unknown, as is the case with some idioms. Some articles presume that the expression began to be used at least at the beginning of the 20th century. This American expression is said to have first appeared in print in 1939, in Irene Baird’s Waste Heritage, but it is quite possible that it originated a decade or earlier.

How Do People Use This Expression?

It wouldn’t be very strange to hear an idiom like this in everyday conversation. People use it when they don’t know how to answer a question. It is a way of saying that they have no idea what to answer. And this could be because they really do not know or because they assume that the answer that the other person can give to the question is the same or even better than the one they could give.

Examples Of The Phrase In A Sentence

Now we will see some examples of situations where we can use the expression “your guess is as good as mine”:

1. A: When will mom come home? B: Well, your guess is as good as mine.
2. A: Do you think the exam will be difficult? B: Your guess is as good as mine, but I hope it won’t.
3. A: How long do you think the meeting will last? B: To be honest, your guess is as good as mine.
4. I would like to answer your questions but your guess is as good as mine.
5. A: Where is the cereal aisle? B: Sorry but your guess is as good as mine. I don’t work here.
6. A: Which team do you think is going to win the championship? B: Mmm… your guess is as good as mine. Both teams are good.
7. I know the day the order was placed, but I don’t know when it arrives, so your guess is as good as mine.
8. I wish I could tell you more about it but your guess is as good as mine.
9. A: Do you think that if I ask her to go out to dinner with me, she will say yes? B: Well dude, your guess is as good as mine.
10. A: I asked someone on the street for directions and the person said “Sorry man, your guess is as good as mine, because I’m not from here.
11. I would tell you the answer to the exam but your guess is as good as mine.
12. If you ask me about what happened to your brother, I can only say that your guess is as good as mine.
13. Your guess is as good as mine, It’s the first time I’ve heard about it.
14. I’d like to help you repair your laptop but your guess is as good as mine.
15. A: How long do you think it takes them to bring us the food we ordered? B: I’m not sure, your guess is as good as mine. I hope they don’t take too long.
16. A: I don’t know anything about quantum physics. B: Well, your guess is as good as mine, because I don’t know anything about it either.
17. A: Do you know what happens to her? B: I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine.
18. A: I can’t find my keys, I think I lost them. Have you seen them? B: Sorry, your guess is as good as mine. But I can help you find them.
19. A: It is the first to see that I visit Italy, which means I have no idea where we are. B: Oh my Gash! Your guess is as good as mine. I think we are lost.
20. A: Excuse me, do you know when the last flight to Atlanta leaves? B: I’m so sorry but your guess is as good as mine. I just came to pick up some suitcases.

Other Expressions That Have The Same Connotation As “Your Guess Is As Good As Mine”

• I don’t know. Example: I’d like to tell you the truth, but I don’t know.
• I have no idea. Example: I have no idea what happened to Ellen.
• Don’t know the answer. Example: She doesn’t know the answer to the question.
• Don’t know any more than the other person. Example: If you ask me about that topic, then the truth is that I don’t know any more than you do.
• I know as little as you. Example: I know as little as you know about algebra.
• Neither of us knows.
• You know the same. Example: You asked me about the arrival time of the bus, but you know the same.
• I couldn’t tell you. Example: I couldn’t tell you because it is the first time I have heard about that subject.
• I have no clue. Example: I would like to help solve but I have no clue how.
• You know as much as I do. Example: I also fell asleep the day the teacher was explaining that topic, so you know as much as I do about it.

Other Expressions That Have The Opposite Meaning Of “Your Guess Is As Good As Mine”

• I know. Example: I know how I can help you repair your television.
• From my perspective. Example: From my perspective, the answer to your problem is to get a new job that will make you more money.
• I certainly know. Example: I certainly know that your car is not in the garage because I saw how your brother drove to his girlfriend’s house.
• I am confident. Example: That is not the answer to the question. I am confident about it.
• I am sure. Example: He told me that he is very sure that he was not going to go out with us tomorrow, so let’s not wait for him.
• I know for sure. Example: We will have a lot of work this week, I know for sure.
• I have no doubt. Example: She has no doubt that you love her.
• I know for a fact. Example: I know for a fact that you have a lot of financial problems because I saw your credit history.
• In my opinion. Example: In my opinion, you should have more confidence in yourself and what you can do.
• I know a little about it. Example: My friend knows a little about metaphysics.
• I have the knowledge. Example: I have the knowledge to answer any of your concerns.

Is It Possible To Hear This Type Of Phrase On Television?

Of course, it is possible. And not only on television but also on the big screen. It is common to hear people using idioms in movies, series, and TV shows. For example: In a scene from Star Trek (“That which survives”) in 1969. The specific time the scene happens is 00.22.20. Mr. Spock asks Dr. M’Benga a question and he responds using the phrase at the end of the answer:

• Spock: Was the cause of his death the same as that which killed the transporter officer?
• Dr. M’Benga: Well, the pattern of cellular disruption was the same, but as to the cause. Well, your guess is as good as mine.

Conclusion

Idioms are phrases and words that people use daily. The use of these can be in any daily situation, which means that we can listen to it both in a conversation between friends and in a work meeting. Therefore, idioms, although some are informal, can be used in both formal and informal conversations.

Also, see them in writings such as stories or stories. In the same way, we can hear them in movies and TV shows as part of the dialogues. However, we see that “your guess is as good as mine” can have different uses depending on the situation. That means that the same idiom can be used to express several ideas but with the same meaning.

For these reasons, it is important to know them and know how they are used, so that in this way they can begin to include them in their daily conversations and conversations with family, friends, and co-workers.

So from now on, do not say that you do not know the answer, but that your guess is as good as mine.