the meaning of "the concept"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello,

'‘You know what a printer is and how to use it, right?’ ‘Yes, I am familiar with the concept, thank you.’

I guess the concept in the 2nd sentence means “how to operate it” or something like that. What would you describe “the concept” specifically?

Thank you in advance,
sweetpumpkin

2

Yes, you have the meaning right, but in my experience, half of the time “familiar with the concept” is used humorously/snidely. This is true of your example as well. To me, the speaker is really saying “of course I know how to use a printer, do you think I’m some sort of idiot?”

3

Ah, I didn’t notice that kind of nuiance. Thank you for your comments!!! It really helps.