couldn't/can't say
idiom
—used to say that someone does not know the answer to something
"When will you be done?" "I couldn't/can't say."
Examples of couldn't/can't say in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Forecasters can't say much more than that at this point, given the large error bars in the timing.
—
Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 May 2025
Gavel couldn't say how long the initial phase would last.
—Nicole Kobie, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Onwuzurike is still 27 years old, and managed to stay healthy last season, something most of the defenders on the Lions can't say.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
But officials can't say if the problem had anything to do with the weather.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
Voros can't say anything for sure about future series, but regardless of that, this was still, in many ways, a goodbye.
—Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Doctors can't say how long Sanchez has to live, given his Stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 15 Dec. 2024
For example, a Detroit Lions plate can't say TERRBL.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 13 Aug. 2024
When asked what would convince him that votes were properly counted, Etheridge couldn't say.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 19 July 2024
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Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 May 2025
Gavel couldn't say how long the initial phase would last.
—Nicole Kobie, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Onwuzurike is still 27 years old, and managed to stay healthy last season, something most of the defenders on the Lions can't say.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
But officials can't say if the problem had anything to do with the weather.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
Voros can't say anything for sure about future series, but regardless of that, this was still, in many ways, a goodbye.
—Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Doctors can't say how long Sanchez has to live, given his Stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 15 Dec. 2024
For example, a Detroit Lions plate can't say TERRBL.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 13 Aug. 2024
When asked what would convince him that votes were properly counted, Etheridge couldn't say.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 19 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Couldn't/can't say.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couldn%27t%2Fcan%27t%20say. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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