What Does “Like the Back of Your Hand” Mean? (よく使う英語慣用語句) -N0.572-

What Does “Like the Back of Your Hand” Mean?（よく使う英語慣用表現）

Introduction

Have you ever known a place or something so well that you don’t even need to think about it? In English, we often say you know it “like the back of your hand.”

1. What Does “Like the Back of Your Hand” Mean?

To know something “like the back of your hand” means to know it extremely well or be very familiar with it.

2. When to Use It

Use this idiom when talking about places, skills, or topics that someone knows perfectly.

Example:
A: Do you know this area well?
B: Of course—I know it like the back of my hand.

3. 日本語の同じような表現

日本語では、「知り尽くしている」「熟知している」「隅々まで知っている」といった表現が近いです。
とてもよく知っていて、迷ったり考えたりする必要がない状態を表します。

Conclusion

When you know something very well, you can say you know it “like the back of your hand.” It’s a common and natural idiom used in everyday English.

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