unknown quantity

noun

: someone or something whose abilities or characteristics are not yet known

If you've never been published before, you're an unknown quantity, so you're going to have difficulty selling your first novel.

Examples of unknown quantity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Club icon Jurgen Klopp departed as manager in the summer after almost nine years with Liverpool and his replacement, Slot, had an impressive track record in his native Netherlands but was an unknown quantity in English football. —Andy Jones, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025

The suspects then allegedly stole an unknown quantity of Apple electronics from the truck and fled in two vehicles, according to state police. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2025

This set off a series of large explosions and a huge plume of black smoke, while a still unknown quantity of jet fuel has spilled into the sea. —Lauren Lowman, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025

Instead of Jimmy Kimmel, a memorable host in the recent past with a keen appreciation for puncturing pretensions, there is Conan O’Brien who, while familiar, remains an unknown quantity in how politically barbed his opening monologue might be. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2025

Katrina Bergman, president of the center, told the Patriot Ledger that an unknown quantity of what is suspected to be heating oil was released to the river. —Jessica Trufant, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024

But for all the controversy surrounding the nomination, Kennedy remains an unknown quantity to many senators. —Peter Sullivan, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024

Glasner should play his regulars in the Carabao Cup - beating Villa could kickstart Palace's season Isaac Schmidt remains an unknown quantity at Leeds - but is opportunity on the way? —New York Times, 30 Oct. 2024

Andrew Vorhees Vorhees is an intriguing but unknown quantity. —C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2024