knew any better
Had no experience
To not know any better is to lack the experience, information, or judgment to recognize that something is wrong, inappropriate, or inadvisable.
The phrase almost always appears in negative constructions and typically excuses or explains poor choices: She was only five—she didn't know any better.
It can also be counterfactual: You'd think he knew any better than to argue with his boss.
Sometimes it carries gentle condescension toward someone acting from ignorance rather than malice.
- acknowledgedAccepted as true
- life lessonInsight from experience
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- naivetyInnocent lack of experience
- well-meaningSincerely trying to help
honest mistake · excusable · misconception · understanding · misjudgment · shortsightedness · regret · misinformation · obliviousness · unawareness · accountability · innocence · good intentions · pardonable · benefit of the doubt · forgiveness · wisdom · repercussions
knew any betterwillful ignorance
Purposely remaining uninformed
intentional · premeditated · malice aforethought · calculated · conscious choice
knew any betterinexcusable
Impossible to justify
unforgivable · should have known · culpable · blameworthy · accountable
knew any betterfully informed
sophisticated · experienced · well aware · wise to it · worldly-wise
knew, better, known, knowing, knowingly, unknown, unknowing, knowable, unknowable