Know Someone from Adam, to not

Meaning of Idiom ‘To Not Know Someone From Adam’

To not know someone from Adam means to not know someone at all, having never met them, or to be completely unable to recognize them. ¹,²

Usage

“I don’t know him from Adam, yet he came to my party uninvited.”

“I don’t know you from Adam and you expect me to lend you money?”

Origin

Used since the 1800’s, this idiom derives from the biblical story of Adam, the first man, created by God. The idea seems to be that Adam lived so long ago that nobody living today could possibly recognize him.

Charles Dickens used the expression in his story The Old Curiosity Shop (1840):

“He had scarcely bestowed upon him his blessing, and followed it with a general remark touching the present state and prospects of the weather, when, lifting up his eyes, he beheld the single gentleman of Bevis Marks in earnest conversation with Christopher Nubbles.
‘Halloo!’ said Dick, ‘who is that?’
‘He called to see my Governor this morning,’ replied Mr. Chuckster; ‘beyond that, I don’t know him from Adam.'” ³

More Idioms Starting with K

• Kick the Tires
• Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
• Know Where One Stands
• Keep a Lookout Meaning
• Keep an Eye Out Meaning

More Biblical Idioms

• Wash Your Hands of (Someone or Something)
• Bottomless Pit
• Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots, a
• Writing On the Wall
• Turn the Other Cheek

More Know Idioms

• Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
• Know Where One Stands
• Know Which Side Your Bread is Buttered On
• Know Something When You See It
• Know the Drill

More Proper Name Idioms

• For the Love of Mike Meaning
• John Hancock (your, one’s)
• Peter Out
• Raise Hell
• Jack of All Trades
• Nervous Nellie

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References

1. Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.
2. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
3. Chrysti. Verbivore’s Feast: Second Course: More Word & Phrase Origins. Helena, MT: Farcountry, 2006.