know shit from Shinola

Definitions

To have the most basic level of intelligence or common sense.

US, stative, vulgar

Examples

“"He don't know⟳ shit from Shinola. (laughter) you know⟳ that? Always wondered how the Shinola people felt about that (laughter) Hi, I'm the new man from Shinola. (laughter) Hi, how are ya? Nice to see⟳ ya? (laughter) How are ya? (laughter)"”

“"I'd like⟳ to comment⟳ on your May editorial, "Who's In Charge Here?" You may be a fair journalist, but you don't know⟳ shit from Shinola when it comes to karate."”

“"Laura looked at him coolly, levelly. 'Frank,' she said softly, 'the information simply isn't there. Therefore the control⟳ can't be there either. So don't try⟳ to con me. You don't know⟳ shit from Shinola!'"”

“"See⟳ what I mean⟳ Shiela? You've got the logical form⟳, the semantics, and all that, but you don't know⟳ shit from Shinola, and with your stupid heuristic learner you can't learn⟳ it unless somebody with authority tells you."”

“"Nowadays they've got all those captains and majors and lieutenants strutting around like⟳ it's May Day in Moscow, and they don't know⟳ shit from Shinola about how to run⟳ a ladies' jail."”

CEFR level