Listen to the author reading this blog post.
I recently heard a journalist complaining that she didn’t understand the government’s position on a particular issue. It was, she said, as clear as mud, meaning, of course, that it was not at all clear! This humorous idiom made me think about the various ways in which we say that something is difficult or impossible to understand. Today’s post, including both single words and idioms, is the result.
Starting with single words, the adjectives incomprehensible, impenetrable, and obscure mean ‘impossible or very difficult to understand’. They often refer to difficult language:
Legal jargon had made the document more or less incomprehensible.
He was known for his impenetrable lyrics.
She has a fondness for answering questions with obscure quotes.
The slightly formal adjective unfathomable also means ‘impossible to understand’ and often goes before the noun ‘reason’:
For some unfathomable reason, he keeps the scissors on top of this cupboard.
Meanwhile, something that is inaccessible is difficult to understand and is therefore not done or enjoyed by many people. This adjective is used, for example, of certain types of music or writing:
Too often, poetry is regarded as something difficult and inaccessible.
Moving into a slightly different area, some things are only understood by a small number of people with special knowledge. For these, we might use the adjectives arcane or esoteric, meaning ‘mysterious and not generally understood’:
There are various arcane rituals associated with the ceremony.
She started to learn about the group’s esoteric teachings.
Let’s turn now to idioms and phrases in this area. If a joke or remark is lost on someone, they do not understand it. Similarly, if something that someone says goes over your head, it is too difficult to understand:
The subtleties of the argument were probably lost on them.
Her presentation was interesting, but parts of it went over my head.
If you can’t make head nor/or tail of something (US, (not) make heads or tails of something), it makes no sense to you at all:
I can’t make head nor tail of these instructions.
We couldn’t make heads or tails of the directions he gave us.
More informally, you might convey that you do not understand something complicated by saying you can’t get your head around it:
I’m looking at the forms now, and I really can’t get my head around them.
Finally, if the reasons for something are beyond you, they are impossible for you to understand:
Why he would choose to leave his children is beyond me.
I hope you have enjoyed this post, and that you don’t complain that you can’t make head or tail of it!
Nice post!! 🙂
Thank you!
Nice
The unfathomable richness of English is beyond me. Almost forty years learning this language and still find words and idioms I didn’t even know they existed.
English is an inexhaustible well, something I love.
That’s a great response – thank you!
I also like the adjective ‘convoluted’, which means a story, speech, writing, etc. that have a complicated structure and therefore difficult to understand.
Yes, thanks so much – a great addition!
Great insight. Rich resource for good communication
Thank you so much!
In the U.S., we have “can’t wrap one’s head around” something, meaning we don’t understand or can’t figure out something. Yet, lately, I’ve been hearing it in the context of not understanding the reason, the motive, or the “why” behind something, especially something unusual or strange.
Thank you for this eye-opening blog. I definitely learned a lot. I love these blogs, as they describe the nuances of similar or related words as well as the similarities between some of these synonyms. In addition, as a special bonus, you differentiate between British English and American English.
Three years ago, I was in a mall in New York, when two girls popped up on my right side talking about something that happened to one of them. “It was all Greek to me.” And both of them laughed. After that, I have heard and used another idiom with the same meaning, for instance “to go over someone’s head. However, the other idioms explained here are new to me. Thank you very much Kate Woodford for this very explained lesson about idioms.
Idioms are an essential part of any language, without them, a language would be too simple and boring.
You’re very welcome! It’s lovely to get such positive feedback!
great post
Thank you!
Thank you for your insightful post on expressions that convey difficulty in understanding. I particularly appreciated the humorous idiom “as clear as mud,” which perfectly captures the frustration many feel when faced with convoluted explanations.
Your exploration of adjectives like “incomprehensible” and “esoteric” sheds light on the nuances of the English language, making it easier for readers to express their thoughts accurately. The examples you provided were not only clear but also relatable, emphasizing how common it is to encounter challenging language in various contexts.
I found the section on idioms especially engaging. Phrases like “go over my head” and “can’t make head nor tail” resonate well with those of us who have faced puzzling situations.
Thank you for sharing such a valuable resource. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thanks so much for your wonderful feedback!
I like your response bro😘
As a student, posts like this one are really usefull
That’s great to hear – thank you!
Nice post, very informative and easy to digest but I’ve got to say that the volume is a little bit too small, please make it louder next time.
Thanks so much for your kind words. I’m sorry the volume was a little low and will try to speak up next time.
A really great post. I absolutely enjoyed it. Thank you so much.
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Your posts are so educational and this one isn’t an exception. I’ve learnt so much vocabulary thanks to you. Thanks a million!
That’s lovely to hear! Thank you so much.
Outstanding words love it😍