Практика Shadowing: 15 Better Ways to Say "I Don't Know" in English (Sound Fluent & Confident!) - Изучайте разговорный английский по видео
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Making English Easy for Everyone Speak English with Jay and May Hey English learners!
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Welcome back to Speak English with Jay and May, your cozy little place to build your English confidence.
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I'm May.
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Hello, May, and hello everyone!
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I'm Jay.
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How are you today, May?
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I'm doing amazing, Jay.
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You know what?
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I was just thinking about you, actually.
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I have a perfect topic for today. For me?
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Why?
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What happened?
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Okay, so I was having a conversation with you last week, remember?
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Someone asked you a question and you just… stopped.
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Like a frozen computer.
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Oh no. Which time?
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That happens to me a lot.
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The one where someone asked you what time the event started and you just said, I don't know, and looked at the floor.
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Okay, yes, that was me.
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I felt so awkward.
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I knew I didn't have the answer, but I didn't know how to say it naturally in English.
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I don't know was the only thing that came out.
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And that's totally okay.
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But here's the thing.
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There are so many better, more natural ways to say that.
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Ways that sound confident and polite at the same time.
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Really?
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Because, honestly, I don't know feels like the only safe option when my brain goes blank.
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I completely understand that feeling.
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When you're speaking in a second language, you want to play it safe.
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But playing it safe can sometimes make you sound less natural.
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That's so true.
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So what's today's topic?
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Today, we are talking about 15 better ways to say I don't know in English,
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and every single one of them will make you sound more fluent and more confident.
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Okay, I genuinely need this.
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I feel like this episode was made for me.
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It kind of was.
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But before we dive in, should we tell our listeners something?
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Yes.
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Listeners, if this podcast is helping your English, please subscribe, hit the like button, and share it with a friend who's learning English too.
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Turn on the notification bell so you never miss an episode.
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We're here every single day for you.
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Every single day.
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Okay, let's get into it.
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Are you ready, Jay? So ready.
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Let's go.
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All right.
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Number one.
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Instead of, I don't know, try saying, I'm not sure.
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I'm not sure.
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That feels gentler somehow.
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Exactly.
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I don't know can sound a little flat or even dismissive, but I'm not sure sounds soft and honest.
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For example, someone asks, is the restaurant open on Sunday?
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You say, I'm not sure.
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Let me check for you.
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Oh, so you're still being helpful even without the answer.
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Right.
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Another example, I'm not sure what time the meeting starts.
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You might want to ask Sarah.
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You're not shutting the conversation down, you're keeping it moving.
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I love that.
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Okay, number two?
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Number two, I have no idea.
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Now this sounds similar to I don't know, but it's actually more expressive.
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More expressive?
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You mean like more feeling?
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Yes.
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I have absolutely no idea why he did that.
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You feel the emotion in it.
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Oh yeah, that does sound more natural in a real conversation.
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Exactly.
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Another example.
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Your friend asks, Why is the traffic so bad today?
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You say, I have no idea.
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It's been like this for an hour.
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Very natural, very real.
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Perfect.
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Okay, what's number three?
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Number three?
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That's a good question.
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Now wait, here's the interesting part about this one.
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Ooh, what?
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This phrase doesn't actually answer anything.
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But it buys you time while your brain is working, and it makes the other person feel like they asked something really smart.
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So it's a clever little pause button.
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Exactly.
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For example, your boss asks, what do you think caused the drop in sales?
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You say, that's a good question.
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Let me think about that for a moment.
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Sounds so much better than just freezing, right?
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So much better.
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Another example?
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Sure.
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A student asks the teacher, why do we dream?
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The teacher says, that's a good question.
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Scientists are still researching that.
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See, even experts use this phrase.
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Okay, that makes me feel way better.
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Number four?
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Number four, I'm not the best person to ask.
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This one is perfect when the topic is completely outside your world.
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You mean like, if someone asks me about car engines, I know nothing about cars.
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Exactly.
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You'd say, I'm not the best person to ask about engines.
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Maybe try asking someone at the garage.
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You're being honest and helpful at the same time.
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That's so polite.
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Another example?
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Yes.
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Someone asks you about tax laws.
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You say, I'm not the best person to ask.
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I'd recommend talking to an accountant.
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You sound responsible and smart, even though you don't have the answer.
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I never thought about it that way.
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Okay, number five.
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Number five is, I'd have to look that up.
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This one sounds very professional.
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So it means you don't know right now, but you can find out?
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Exactly.
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For example, someone asks, what's the population of Iceland?
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You say, I'd have to look that up, but I think it's pretty small, maybe around 300,000.
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You're honest, but you're still engaging.
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Oh, I love that.
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It shows effort.
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Another good one, at work, your manager asks about a specific number.
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You say, I'd have to look that up and get back to you by end of day.
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That sounds so professional and reliable. So good.
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Okay, number six, what is it?
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Number six is one of my personal favorites, beats me.
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Beats me?
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Like someone is hitting you?
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I knew you'd say that.
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No, no. Beats me is a casual, fun idiom that means I have absolutely no idea.
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Like your friend asks, why did they cancel the show?
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You say, beats me.
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I loved that show.
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Okay, that's so fun.
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Very casual though, right?
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casual.
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Don't say it to your boss, but with friends or family, it's perfect.
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Another example, why is this app not working?
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Beats me, I've been trying to fix it for an hour. That is so real.
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Okay, number seven, what is it?
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Number seven is, I can't say for certain.
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This one is a little more formal, and it's great when you have some information but you're not 100% sure.
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So you're giving an answer but protecting yourself.
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Right.
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For example, I can't say for certain but I think the deadline is Friday.
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You're giving useful information without making a firm promise.
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Oh, so if you're wrong, you already warned them.
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That's smart.
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Very smart.
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Another example, a doctor might say, I can't say for certain without running more tests.
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It sounds careful and professional, not clueless.
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Wow, even doctors use this.
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I feel better already.
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Number eight?
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Number eight, you've got me there.
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And this is where things change a little, because this phrase actually means the other person asks something so clever they completely stumped you.
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Stumped?
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You mean like, they stopped me with their question?
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Exactly.
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Stumped means you're stuck.
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So when someone asks a really deep question, you say, You've got me there.
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That's a tough one.
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It complements their question and admits you don't know at the same time.
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Ooh, that's smooth.
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Example?
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Sure.
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Your friend asks, If the universe is always expanding, what is it expanding into?
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You say, You've got me there.
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I have no idea.
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That makes my head hurt.
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That question makes my head hurt, too.
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Okay, number nine.
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Number nine.
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That's beyond me.
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Use this when the topic is too advanced or too technical for you.
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Like if someone asks me about computer programming code?
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Perfect example.
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That's beyond me.
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I'm more of a creative person.
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It's honest, and it tells people something about you, too.
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Another example?
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Sure.
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Someone asks about advanced physics.
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You say, honestly, that's completely beyond me.
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I'd need to go back to school for that one.
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It's very natural, very human.
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I say that about math all the time.
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Okay, number ten.
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Number ten.
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I wish I knew.
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This one is beautiful because it adds warmth and emotion to your answer.
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Warmth?
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How?
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When you say, I wish I knew, you're telling the other person, I really want to help you, but I just don't have the answer.
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It shows you care.
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Like, your friend asks, why is life so hard sometimes?
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And you say, I wish I knew, honestly, I really do.
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Oh, that does feel very warm and human.
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Another example.
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Someone asks, why did things turn out this way?
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You say, I wish I knew.
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I've been asking myself the same question.
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It creates connection, not distance.
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Wow, this phrase does something emotionally.
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I love it.
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Number 11.
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Number 11.
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I'm drawing a blank.
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Jay, can you guess what this means?
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Um, drawing a blank.
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Like your mind is empty?
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Like a blank page with nothing on it?
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You are absolutely right.
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When you're drawing a blank, your brain is like an empty white page.
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You're trying, but nothing is coming out.
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Example?
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You're trying to remember your co-worker's name and someone asks.
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You say, oh gosh, I'm drawing a blank right now.
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It'll come to me in a second.
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Supernatural.
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Or like when you're trying to remember a song.
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What's that song called?
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I'm completely drawing a blank.
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Yes, exactly like that.
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Very common, very everyday English.
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Okay, number 12.
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Number 12.
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Don't quote me on this, but this one is unique because you actually give an answer, but you protect yourself first.
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You mean like you warned them before you speak?
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Exactly.
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Don't quote me on this, but I think the shop closes at 8.
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You're saying, I might be wrong, so please don't repeat this as a hard fact.
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Oh, so it's like an insurance policy before your sentence.
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I love that.
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Insurance policy.
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Perfect.
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Another example.
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Don't quote me on this, but I think she used to live in Canada before moving here.
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Very casual, very natural with friends.
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Okay, number 13.
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Number 13.
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I'm a little fuzzy on the details.
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Imagine someone asks you about a trip you took three years ago.
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You remember it, but only a little.
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Oh yeah, like, I remember the food was amazing, but I forget the name of the restaurant.
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Exactly.
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You'd say, I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I think it was somewhere near the beach.
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Fuzzy like blurry, like an unclear photo?
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Perfect comparison.
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Your memory is not sharp, it's fuzzy.
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Another example.
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I'm a little fuzzy on the details of that meeting.
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Can you send me the notes?
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Very professional and very honest.
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I love how natural that sounds.
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Okay, number 14.
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Number 14.
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I'm not really up on that up on
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that like you're not on top of the information exactly up on means informed
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or updated so I'm not really up on
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that means I haven't been following that topic closely example sure someone asks about the latest political news you say honestly,
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I'm not really up on that lately.
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I've been so busy.
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Very natural, no embarrassment.
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Or like, I'm not really up on the newest fashion trends.
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That's not my world.
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Yes, totally.
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It tells people what your world is and isn't.
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Okay, last one, number 15.
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The final one.
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What is it?
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Number 15, and this is my all-time favorite.
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That's a tough one.
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Let me get back to you on that.
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Ooh, this sounds so professional.
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It is.
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That's a tough one shows respect for the question.
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Let me get back to you shows you're responsible.
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Together, you sound like a true professional.
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Example, please.
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Your manager asks, what's your strategy for next quarter?
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You say, that's a tough one.
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Let me pull together some data and get back to you by tomorrow.
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That is impressive.
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Wow.
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Another one?
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A client asks you a detailed question you weren't prepared for.
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You say, that's a tough one.
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I want to give you the right answer, So let me get back to you on that.
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You sound trustworthy, not unprepared.
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That one is going straight into my work life.
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Good.
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Okay, let's do a super fast recap.
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Ready?
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Ready.
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1. I'm not sure.
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2. I have no idea.
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3. That's a good question.
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4. I'm not the best person to ask.
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5. I'd have to look that up.
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6. Beats me.
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7. I can't say for certain.
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8. You've got me there.
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9. That's beyond me.
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10. I wish I knew.
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11. I'm drawing a blank.
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12. Don't quote me on this, but...
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13. I'm a little fuzzy on the details.
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14. I'm not really up on that. And 15.
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That's a tough one.
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Let me get back to you on that.
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Fifteen phrases.
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Fifteen ways to sound more confident, more natural, and more fluent, even when you don't have the answer.
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You know what, Mae?
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I used to think that saying, I don't know, made me sound dumb, especially in English.
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I'd get so embarrassed.
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And that feeling is so common among English learners.
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But here's the truth.
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Not knowing something is completely normal.
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It's human.
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The difference is how you respond.
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So it's not about having all the answers, it's about how you handle not having them.
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Exactly.
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Confidence in English isn't about being perfect, it's about being natural, being warm, and keeping the conversation alive.
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That honestly changed how I see things.
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Thank you, Mae.
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Always!
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Okay listeners, we have a fun question for you before we go.
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Yes, which of these 15 phrases felt the most natural to you?
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Or which one are you going to try using in your next conversation?
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Tell us in the comments.
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We love reading what you write.
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And if this episode helped you, please share it with someone who's learning English.
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It means the world to us.
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Subscribe, like, and turn on that notification bell, because we are here every single day with a new episode just for you.
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Every single day.
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Because your English growth doesn't stop, and neither do we.
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See you tomorrow!
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See you tomorrow!
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Bye everyone!
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Bye bye!
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Об этом уроке
Вы практикуете английский с "15 Better Ways to Say "I Don't Know" in English (Sound Fluent & Confident!)" с помощью техники Shadowing — метода, разработанного для подготовки профессиональных переводчиков.
Слушайте каждое предложение, обращайте внимание на ударения и связывание звуков, затем повторяйте вслух уверенно. 15–30 минут ежедневной практики дадут заметные результаты.
Что такое техника Shadowing?
Shadowing — это научно обоснованная техника изучения языка, изначально разработанная для подготовки профессиональных переводчиков и популяризированная полиглотом доктором Александром Аргуэльесом. Метод прост, но эффективен: вы слушаете аудио на английском от носителей языка и немедленно повторяете вслух — как тень, следующая за говорящим с задержкой в 1–2 секунды. В отличие от пассивного прослушивания или грамматических упражнений, Shadowing заставляет мозг и мышцы рта одновременно обрабатывать и воспроизводить реальные речевые паттерны. Исследования показывают, что это значительно улучшает точность произношения, интонацию, ритм, связную речь, понимание на слух и беглость речи — что делает его одним из самых эффективных методов для подготовки к IELTS Speaking и реального общения на английском.