не иметь понятия

• НЕ ИМЕТЬ ПОНЯТИЯ (о чём о г что..., где..., зачем... и т.п.) coll

[VP; subj: human]

=====

⇒ not to know (some fact) or not to have any knowledge (in some area):

- X не имел понятия{{}}≈ X had no idea;

- X didn't have <hadn't> the slightest <the foggiest> (idea <notion>);

- X didn't have a clue;

- X was clueless;

|| X не имеет понятия об Y-e ≈ X doesn't know a thing about Y;

- X is clueless when it comes to Y;

|| [when used as a response only] понятия не имею! ≈ beats me!;

- you got me!;

- don't ask me!

     ♦ Он [отец Алексей] сел за зеленый стол с умеренным изъявлением удовольствия и кончил тем, что обыграл Базарова на два рубля пятьдесят копеек ассигнациями: в доме Арины Власьевны и понятия не имели о счёте на серебро... (Тургенев 2). Не [Father Alexei] took his seat at the card-table with a moderated show of pleasure and ended by winning from Bazarov two and a half roubles in paper money: in Arina Vlassyevna's house they had no idea of how to reckon in silver... (2c).

     ♦ Я стал её [девушку] искать. Я знал, что я ее увижу, а что дальше будет - понятия не имел (Искандер 6). I began to look for her [the girl]. Although I knew that I would eventually find her, I hadn't the slightest idea what would happen after that (6a).