Need to Know

That's a phrase to strike fear and loathing into an inquiring mind. Need to Know. It implies you are somehow not qualified to know something of presumed importance. At least you think it's important to know and some sinister force is preventing you from knowing it.

I have my own personal uses for “Need to Know” and it's more a source of amusement than an annoyance between me and my wife.

For example: If she's going into great detail in a story about a friend or mutual acquaintance, I'll say, “more than I need to know.” She takes this in good humor and as a result she now tells me only what I need to know. I like that.

In fact, some of our friends have adopted the practice, telling their immediate audience only what they need to know, including us.

That's all you need to know.