know the score
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Know the essential facts.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
I've been around a bit, I've learned a thing or two, I know the score.
Just let the others know the score.’
British National Corpus sentence via the MAGPIE corpus (CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “know the score” mean?
Know the essential facts.
Is “know the score” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.