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DictionarySeequantityan unknown quantity
an unknown quantityA person or thing that is unpredictable and thus difficult to anticipate. We're still revising our new product, so its potential success is an unknown quantity. This is her first year teaching, so her ability to connect with her students is still an unknown quantity.See also: quantity, unknown*unknown quantityFig. a person or thing about which no one is certain. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) John is an unknown quantity. We don't know how he's going to act. The new clerk is an unknown quantity. Things may not turn out all right.See also: quantity, unknownunknown quantityAn unpredictable person or thing, as in We don't know how the new pitcher will do-he's an unknown quantity. This expression comes from algebra, where it signifies an unknown numerical value. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1800s. See also: quantity, unknownan unknown quantity COMMON If someone or something is an unknown quantity, not much is known about them. She had met Max several times, but he was still pretty much an unknown quantity. The team is something of an unknown quantity, having played few big games. Ballet was an unknown quantity in the United States at that time.See also: quantity, unknownunknown quantity a person or thing whose nature, value, or significance cannot be determined or is not yet known.See also: quantity, unknownan ˌunknown ˈquantity a person or thing that you do not know anything or enough about: His ability to make decisions in a crisis is an unknown quantity. ♢ Our new director is still an unknown quantity.See also: quantity, unknownLegalSeeQuantity |