know beans about

Verb

know beans about (third-person singular simple present knows beans about, present participle knowing beans about, simple past knew beans about, past participle known beans about)

1. (US) To know something, even if only a little, about.
   • But the great artist doesn't know "beans" about driving oxen. He has put his driver on the "off" side of the yoke.1881 February 7, “Notes of the Fine Arts”, in New York Times, retrieved 22 Sep 2009, page 3
   • If this self-styled expert in the field of human relations knew beans about handling people he'd get more work out of the women and fewer tears.1963 March 12, “Dear Ann Landers”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, retrieved 22 Sep 2009, page 17
2. (US, idiomatic) To know nothing, or almost nothing, about.
   • His primary opponent, Raphael Herman, is a real estate salesman who frankly admits he knows beans about insurance.1986 August 22, “Editorial: The Cabinet Races”, in Gainesville Sun, retrieved 22 Sep 2009, page 18A