The idiom ‘you know the drill’ is used when someone knows what needs to be done or what happens in a situation. This is usually because they are familiar with the process or through practice know what to do to achieve the desired outcome.
If someone tells you that you know the drill, they are recognizing your foresight and expertise. I have curated 20 of the best responses to ‘you know the drill’ so that you can better respond when you are told this idiom.
Yes Man. I Know How It Works
When someone tells you that ‘you know the drill’ they may be referring to the fact that you know how operating something works or how a process unfurls. You can use your response to affirm that you really know it.
Other examples to use in this direction include:
- I like to pride myself in knowing how things work
- I guess that’s reason you employed me
The Process is Pretty Straightforward. We Can Do It
Another nice way to respond to ‘you know the drill’ is to say “the process is pretty straightforward and we can do it.” You can respond like this when you are working in a team and only you seem to know the process.
This is a way to encourage other people on the team that it is not as difficult as it seems.
You can also say:
- Come on guys. We can do this. It’s very easy
- Once we are able to take the first two steps, everything becomes easy
That Was a Very Wild Guess
You may luckily point out the expected outcome in a procedure or disclose accurate information about something that makes you look like an expert when you were only just guessing.
In such circumstances, if you are told that ‘you know the drill”,” you can reply by saying “that was actually a wild guess.”
Want more examples? Here you go:
- I wasn’t sure it was correct. Just thought it should be so
- Oh my. I was just guessing that’s how it works.
I Am Not Sure That’s How It Works But I Think We Can Make It Work
Another way you can respond to ‘you know the drill’ is to say that while you’re not sure what you just explained works, you believe that collectively the team can make it work.
It could be that you were told you know the drill because you contributed marvelously well. To save your head, if you don’t know the drill like everyone thinks, you can say “I am not sure but I think we can attempt it that way.”
You can use other the following examples:
- Even though I am not sure, I believe we can do anything
- While I am not sure about it, I can’t think of a better way around it. So we should try it
Well, I Learned From The Best
If your mentor or boss commends you for knowing the “drill,” you can respond by massaging their ego and appreciating them for their contribution to your expertise or knowledge.
Acknowledging that you learnt from the best is a good way to respond to ‘you know the drill.’ Other examples you can use include:
- Thank you so much sir. You have been helpful
- I can only say that you’ve taught me well
There’s a Recurring Pattern. If You Observe it Closely, You’ll See It
It is possible that the procedure for doing something or the outcome when certain conditions are established is easy to discern.
If this is the case, you can reply to a ‘you know the drill’ compliment by saying “There’s a recurring pattern and you’ll be able to notice upon close observation.”
Refer to the suggestions below for more ideas:
- If you observe closely, you’ll be able to determine the possible outcome
- There’s nothing too complicated about the process
When We Do It That Way, I Can Guarantee We Will Get The Right Outcome
You can affirm your understanding of the process in response to knowing the drill. “When we do it that way, I am sure we will get the right outcome” is a recommended way to respond when you are certain of the procedure even though other people may not be entirely sure about it.
This solidifies the perceived understanding of your expertise and understanding. You can say:
- I am confident we will be able to accomplish this test following this set of rules
- It is a pretty straightforward process. Trust me, we can’t be wrong.
This Is The 10th Time I Am Working On A Project Like This
In replying to ‘you know the drill,’ you can divulge information about your experience and how it has shaped your understanding of the process or the product’s use.
“This is the 10th time I am working on a project like this” comes in handy if it’s related to experience from carrying out a project. You can substitute “10th” for any number depending on how it relates to you.
These recommendations provide more ideas:
- I think after handling several projects in this niche I can clearly explain how the process can work
- From all my experiences on projects like this, it is easy to know what to do
Every Member of the Team Does. It Is No Big Deal
Assume you are a team lead or a member of a team and someone tries to single you out as the most knowledgeable of all other team members. You can tell them that “Every member of the team does. So, it is not a big deal.”
You can also use a response like this when pitching for projects or contracts to convince your prospective client of the competence of not just you but every other member of your team to handle the job at hand.
For more inspiration, check out the examples below:
- You can rest assured that we will give you the best results cause every member of the team knows the drill
- We are the best in the market as we have a collective experience of nearly eight decades
I Have Been on the Job for Nearly Two Decades. I Guess The Experience Comes with Practice
Another way to respond to ‘you know the drill’ is to credit your years of experience as the reason. One of the recommended replies in this direction would be to say “I have been on the job for nearly three decades so I have mastered the process.” Here, you are stating the reason you know the drill which adds credibility to your knowledge.
Other examples you can use include:
- My experience on the job gives me an edge over other professionals.
- After three decades on the job, it has become easy to know what happens given any conditions
Yep. So, You Don’t Need to Tell Me What to Do
When someone’s trying to fault you in your area of specialization, dictating what should be your course of action, you can say that “Hope you see that you do not have to tell me what to do” after they realize how good you are at what you do.
Need more ideas? Here are a few:
- You’ve been trying to force your ideas into how I handle my work. I’ll appreciate you let me handle my business since you now know I got this covered
- Oh now you know. Let me get to work now
Want to Know How it Works?
“Want to know how it works?” is another smart way to respond to knowing the drill. Asking this question would further establish how well you understand the process. You are trying to convince them of your expertise by offering to share what you know with them.
You can also use any of the following:
- It is not so difficult, man. I can tell you all there’s to know
- Thank you, but you can do it too
I Think It’s Not Just Me. Everyone Does So You Don’t Have to Explain It Everytime We Need to Use It
“Everyone knows the drill, so you don’t have to explain how it works everytime we need to use the machine” is a good response that you can use when someone believes they have to remind you of how something works. You could give a legit reason why they should refrain from constantly boring you with the explanations of a process you already know everything about.
Aside from the main response, I’ve outlined two other examples:
- You do not always have to remind us. We all know the drill
- That’s what I have been hoping you realized earlier. Your desire to let us know slows down progress and prevents us from rapid turnovers
Funny Thing is, I Only Read About This Last Night
It is possible that you recently learnt about how something works and after sharing you are told ‘you know drill.’ Your response can be an admission of how recently you got the information you just shared. So, you can say “I watched a documentary where someone narrated how it works just weeks ago.”
I have listed two suggestions for you:
- I had randomly read how it works just recently.
- It was only last week when someone shared some of the details I now know
I’ve Got a Few Tricks Up My Sleeve
“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve” is a playful way to respond to ‘you know the drill.’ I suggest you use this response when you are not necessarily an expert in the subject matter. You’ll be letting them know that you are simply trusting on your instincts and intuitive judgment.
Other ways you can say this include:
- Its pure instincts. Not as though I am an expert on this subject matter
- Let’s just say I am always looking for ways to do things
Just Needed to Run It By You For Confirmation and Approval
You could get a ‘you know the drill’ compliment from your boss or superior at work after giving them a breakdown of how a process works. Your response could be “I wanted to run it by you so you can approve this new course of action.”
There are other ways you can respond this way. I have listed two below:
- I simply wanted to run it by you so you are in the know about the progress we are making
- I needed to be sure I was on the right track as regarding our project
I Could Use Some Help You Know
“I could use some help you know” can be used to respond to ‘you know the drill’ when you want the person to help you on the course of action you need to take. This response suggests that even though you have an idea about the process, you still need help in carrying the task out.
Check out the following examples:
- Yes, I do, but I need some assistance
- I know what to do but I want your help in getting it done
What If We Reinvented the Wheel?
While you may know the drill, it is possible that you want to suggest a new approach to the process. This is the kind of situation where you can say “what if we reinvented the wheel?” Such a response gives the person the idea that you know how things work but are considering other ways it can be done.
Other suggestions include:
- I was hoping we could change our approach
- It would make a lot of sense if we are able to revolutionize our approach
I Could Be a Consultant Already. I Know You Too Much
If you know the process so well and you are confident you can get the desired outcome, you can respond to ‘you know the drill’ with “I could be a consultant already.” You should use this response only when you are talking with friends who’ll understand you are only being sarcastic.
Here are a few other examples:
- Maybe I should start consulting because there’s almost no one better at this than me
- You know these things. I will be a gym instructor soon
You Flatter Me So Much. Thank You Though
‘You know the drill’ can be a compliment rather than just a statement of fact. Your response could be “You flatter me so much.” Together with the comment on being flattered, you can show your appreciation for their lovely thoughts.
Refer to the suggestions below:
- I am flattered. That’s so sweet of you
- C’mon naw. That’s lovely of you to say. Thank you
Before You Go
Now you don’t have to worry about how to respond to ‘you know the drill’ after reading through the responses I just provided. You have an answer that will fit into any scenario effortlessly. Cheers to more hearty conversations.