Green’s Dictionary of Slang

see also under relevant n. or adj.

(US) a dismissive phr.: I could not care less.

1882

Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 25 Mar. 7/1: The mechanic told an officer [...] ‘That man has assaulted a woman back there!’ The officer yawned and replied: ‘I want to know! I guess it's only a family quarrel’.

to possess or to deny the slightest knowledge.

1935		Dress & Vanity Fair vols 43-45 40: They don’t know nothing from nothing.
1947		Esquire vol. 28 138/4: He’s the boy, all right, and of course he don’t know nothing from nothing.
1950		National Underwriter vol. 54 7/2: [L]ife companies don’t know thing from nothing.
1952		W.R. Burnett Vanity Row 50: ‘Hargis, strictly speaking, Tootsie knows from nothing’.
1961		W.R. Burnett Conant 21: ‘Now listen careful, big boy. You never seen us. You never talked to us. You know from absolutely goddamned nothing. Right?
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 90: ‘I ain’t copping no plea, motherfucker—I’m gonna tell you where it’s at. The kid did it by himself with his two punks. I knew nothin’ from nothin’ .

an almost transparent interj., used as much for punctuation as for explication.

1963		B. Naughton Alfie I i: That might be, but I ain’t a vodka and lime buyer. Know what I mean?
1977		G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 18: ‘There’s one or two Old Bill in now,’ the man informed him. ‘Thought I’d mark your card, Jack. Know what I mean.’.
1983		J. Sullivan ‘Wanted’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] You had me going there for a minute, know what I mean?
1997		N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 23: The bird stands ’bou three foot and squawks na mean after pretty much everythin’.
2000		Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 na mean Definition: truncated version of ‘know what I mean?’ usually used after a point has been made in order to receive the listeners affirmation. Example: Bitch didn’t have mah money, so I pulled my hand back and said, ‘You don’t know where I’m comin’ from bitch, I’m comin’ from back here!’ Na mean?
2001		K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 17: They’ll be biting our hands off to be part of the Village knowmean.
2002		J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 13: Caught a new case outta Reno, dawg, looking at a fucking nickel. Pure bullshit — know what I’m sayin’?
2002		‘Touré’ Portable Promised Land (ms.) 161: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Bredren. Ignant. Nahmean.

(US campus) do you understand?

1983		Eble Campus Sl. Nov. 3: know what I mean, Vern? – expression asking for agreement.
2002		GuardOnline.com 22 Mar. 🌐 In fact since it is so easily obtainable it is ignored a lot more. Know what I mean Vern? You can not dictate to others or legislate morals as so many do-gooders in Arkansas claim the right is theirs!

see under time n.

see find out where the barley grows under barley n.¹

(Aus.) a dismissive phr.

c.1943

S .J. Baker Aus. Vulgarisms [t/s] 10: know where to put it, you (he, etc.): A cant phrase, elaborating stick it! upya! etc.

see separate entry.

see under in-and-out n.¹