little did one know

English

Adverb

little did one know (not comparable)

1. Used to show a relevant fact that is unknown to a person, or that the result or sequence of events differs greatly from what one had expected with the little knowledge he or she had about the situation beforehand.

   Little did we know, we would be stuck in traffic for hours before finally making it back home.

   • 2013 November 6, Stephanie Slifer, “Michelle Knight, Cleveland kidnapping survivor, details horrific circumstances inside Ariel Castro's home”, in CBS News‎^[1]:

     Knight said Castro told her, "You're only going to be here as a friend, that's it. And I'll let you go on Christmas." Little did she know she would be held captive in his Cleveland home for more than ten years.

See also

• next thing one knows