单词 | what all |
释义 | > as lemmaswhat all Phrases P1. Phrases with what as pronoun, in direct and indirect questions. a. but what. (a) In negative or interrogative constructions, after doubt (noun or verb), reversing the effect of the negative or interrogative so as to affirm the dependent clause more emphatically, as in there is no doubt but what you could do better = ‘there is no doubt whatsoever that you could do better’ (cf. but conj. 9b). Also after verbs expressing mental affirmation, such as know (cf. but conj. 9a). Now chiefly U.S. regional and nonstandard. ΚΠ 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 5 And I do not doubt, but what my desyre, what your loue toward it, the honestie of shoting, the profite that may come therby to many other, shall get the seconde parte out of you at the last. 1644 E. Arnold tr. D. Pareus Comm. Revelation (i. 11) 21 To the end he might not doubt, but what he did was truely divine. 1763 J. Wesley Let. 23 Aug. (1931) IV. 221 There is no doubt but what you at first experienced was a real foretaste of the blessing. 1840 New Monthly Mag. 59 476 I don't know but what it may be better fun dining in this way, and eating as much as I like. 1857 H. P. Montgomery Let. 29 Nov. in C. F. Williams et al. Documentary Hist. Arkansas (1984) 68 There is no doubt but what we can get more work than we can do. 1916 L. W. Robinson Let. 14 Aug. in K. B. Betheny From Miners' Doublehouse (2007) App. A. 243 There is no doubt but what many improvements could be made. 1934 P. G. Wodehouse Thank you, Jeeves xii. 162 Dotty, beyond a question. And who knew but what that dottiness might not run in the family? 2006 C. McCarthy Sunset Limited 50 Oh I dont doubt but what it's possible to die from bein full of shit. ΚΠ a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. xxvi. 924 Canel..may nought be yfounde but what falleþ by his owne wight or is ysmyte doun wiþ leded arwes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) v. ii. 14 Padua affords nothing but what is kinde. View more context for this quotation 1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura sig. b7v Never any of the Antients excelled in these Arts, but what were Gentlemen. 1694 R. South 12 Serm. II. 381 Few are Confident, but what are first Careless. 1711 Medley No. 24 I don't know one Politician but what Drunkenness wou'd make a Sot of. 1747 Gentleman's Mag. May 247/2 Of the sails that were left, I believe there is not a cloth but what has a shot through it. 1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph I. 45 There are not many masters of eminence but what have a hundred originals palmed upon them more than ever they painted in their lives. 1780 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. (1789) xiv. p. clxxxv (note) There are few madmen but what are observed to be afraid of the strait waistcoat. 1796 C. Smith Marchmont IV. 133 Not one of these insinuations but what gathered something from malevolence. 1846 Jrnl. Health & Dis. Apr. 320 Each [hound] strained his best to reach the game, and not a spirit among them but what would have haunched or throated him with the last throe of life remaining. (c) After a negative expressed or implied in the main clause, and implying a negative in the dependent clause, expressing an inevitable accompanying circumstance or result: so that..not, when..not, but that. Cf. but conj. 10b. Now rare.Now generally expressed by without and a gerund (e.g. I never go there but what I visit her = ‘I never go there without visiting her’). ΚΠ 1662 H. More Immortality of Soul (ed. 2) 96 in Coll. Several Philos. Writings We cannot discover any immediate operation of any kind of soul..but what it first works upon, etc. 1753 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 43 There hardly arose an Incident, but what our Fellow-Traveller would repeat twenty or thirty Verses in a Breath. 1862 A. Trollope N. Amer. I. 47 Nor am I yet so old but what I can rough it still. 1908 W. H. Davies Autobiogr. Super-tramp xxiv. 211 I seldom lie down at night but what I am half skimished (half drunk), for I assure you I never go short of my skimish. 1933 D. L. Sayers Hangman's Holiday (1978) 28 I never sees a bunch o' grass but what I think of Mrs Susan Brown. (d) (With unexpressed non-referential it and copula) not but what: (affirming the statement in the dependent clause) it is not but that, (sometimes also) it is not to say but that. Cf. but conj. 10a. ΚΠ 1756 tr. Mod. Observ. Antient Hist.: Chapter 4 18 Not but what they entertained shrewd Suspicions of the Part which Demosthenes and Astius were now playing. 1814 W. Scott Waverley I. vi. 88 Not but what I would go to—(what was I going to say?) to the plantations for the church with pleasure. 1883 E. Fitzgerald Let. 9 Apr. in A. C. Benson E. Fitzgerald (1905) i. 19 Never having read his father's [poems]..till drawn to them by me... Not but what he loved and admired his father in every shape but that. 1894 G. Du Maurier Trilby (1895) vi. 284 Not but what many changes had been wrought. 1908 R. Bagot Anthony Cuthbert xxi. 257 You should have kept quiet in the house to-day. Not but what you are certainly looking better than you did early this morning. 1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon (1968) vii. 117 Not but what it'll be a kind of busman's holiday for you. 1984 S. Keery Last Romantic out of Belfast (2011) xi. 126 Not but what all that family was in fact rotten with consumption. 2011 A. Elliott Pemberley to Waterloo 181 Not but what I'm certain our lads will give old Boney's lot a grand beating tomorrow. ΚΠ 1779 H. Cowley Who's the Dupe? ii. ii. 31 I'll buy him twice as many books as a College Library; but what I'll bribe him. 1807 Salmagundi 25 Apr. 166 In vain did the wind whistle and the storm beat; my aunt would waddle through mud and mire, over the whole town, but what she would visit them. 1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons III. xvi. ix. 168 It will go hard but what I shall find something to suit you. 1891 Cent. Mag. Feb. 595/2 I'll go through this town like a fine-tooth comb but what I'll find him. ΚΠ eOE Royal Psalter ix. 34 Propter quid inritauit impius dominum : fore hwæt [OE Lambeth Psalter forhwan, lOE Salisbury Psalter for hwæt] bysmrade se arleasa? c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14113 Forr all mann kinn to shæwenn swa. Forr whatt he comm onn erþe. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4814 Forr whatt iss drihhtin me þuss wraþ. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1657 Iacob tolde him for-quat he swanc So fer. c. what for: (in main or subordinate clause) for what purpose, with what object; for what reason, why. (a) Forming a verbless clause.Probably an elliptical use of Phrases 1c(b), but recorded slightly earlier. ΚΠ 1688 Some Refl. Prince of Oranges Declar. 1 We have been abused with feigned dangers and false fears: And what for? If not to cover, break and lessen the guilt of a Protestant Invasion? 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xiv. 218 ‘I want him.’ ‘What for, pussy? Are you going to use him for a rattle-box, or a rocking-horse, or what?’ 1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 15/1 ‘Come round to the office, you!’ he says; and I asked him what for. Instead of telling, though, he just clouted me under the ear. 1953 A. Baron Human Kind xxiv. 178 This battalion came all the way from Africa, two thousand miles of bloody misery.., and what for? To clean their crap up after them! 2013 T. Creed Redstone Station viii. 68 ‘Alice, can I borrow you for a bit this evening?’ ‘What for?’ Alice and her grandmother asked in unison. (b) With the preposition stranded at the end of the clause: what…for; hence (with what as nominal relative at the head of a subordinate clause) the reason why.. (as in quot. 1714). ΚΠ 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cccxvi. 276 A Good Woman happen'd to pass by as a Company of Young Fellows were Cudgelling a Wallnut-Tree, and ask'd them what they did That for? 1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. (ed. 2) II. 236 But what I cited all these passages for is to show [etc.]. 1734 Select Trials Old-Bailey I. 454/2 As she was standing at the End of Stone-Cutters Alley, a Gentleman came along, and asked her what she stood there for? 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iv, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 125 What are ye maundering and greeting for? 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. i. 249 The boot he had just pulled off flew straight at the head of the bully... ‘Confound you, Brown, what's that for?’ 1934 J. Tobias Ready-made Family ii. 37 Gracie pulls the rope taut. Henry trips and falls sprawling... You little demon! What did you do that for? 2002 R. Gervais & S. Merchant Office: Scripts 1st Ser. Episode 5. 192 What you wanna be a psychiatrist for? They're all mad themselves, aren't they? (c) Originally Scottish and English regional (northern). As a compound adverb, introducing a clause. Now regional and nonstandard.Sometimes written as one word. ΚΠ 1668 M. Bruce Serm. Preached at Tolbooth in Edinb. 11 Since I know that, what for should I be discouraged and cast down? a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 279 ‘Geld you!’ quo' he, ‘and whatfore no’. 1823 J. Galt Ringan Gilhaize II. xxxii. 323 The children wondered whatfor an honest man should be brought to punishment. 1948 E. Waugh Loved One 51 What for you want new ideas? 1984 J. Platt et al. New Englishes vii. 127 What for you want to do that? 2003 T. McEwen Who sleeps with Katz 129 What for did they spend all those hours in the Dublin House? 2008 R. Fairnie Scots Tung Wittins (SCOTS) No. 176 Gin Alexander McCall Smith can dae it for Botswana, whit for shuid she no dae it for Glesca? (d) slang (chiefly British). to give a person what for: to inflict severe pain or chastisement on a person; also in extended use; similarly to get what for. Also to show a person what for: to make a person take notice; to show who is in charge. [Probably originally part of a response to the question What for? ; compare the context in quot. 1852.] ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)] > severely visita1382 to-punisha1400 overpunisha1639 to give (a person) hell1836 to give a person what for1852 slate1854 to give it in the neck1881 to come down1888 bean1910 scrub1911 cane1925 to gie (or give) (someone) laldy1935 1852 Daily News 2 Nov. 3/6 ‘Come on,’ says the gallant capturer. ‘What for?’ says his victim. ‘What for!—I'll show you what for; come on’. 1860 Hereford Jrnl. 1 Feb. 2/4 Myers said, ‘If I can get him in here I will give him what for’; that was the common expression of one man who wanted to pitch it into another. 1873 Routledge's Young Gentleman's Mag. Feb. 137/1 It'll give you what for if it touches your lips. 1946 ‘P. Wentworth’ Pilgrim's Rest (1996) vi. 38 But don't you say I said nothing about it, because if Mrs. Robbins knowed she'd give me what for. 1966 Listener 18 Aug. 229/1 The stereotype of ‘the wily oriental gentleman..the half-civilized levantine..the type of fellow who must be shown what for’. 2004 J. Denby Billie Morgan v. 35 Oh, if my mam sees me goin' in there, I'll get such what for! 2007 Independent 2 May (Extra section) 5/3 Even Bill the guitar genius is a bit timid when it comes to mandolins, he's poked it gingerly in the past and said ‘Isn't that amazing!’ but she just grabbed it and gave it what for. d. what for a —— ‘what kind of’: see for prep., conj., n., and adv. Phrases 2c. ΚΠ OE tr. Apollonius of Tyre (1958) xiv. 20 Ða cwæð se cyng: ‘Þurh hwæt wast ðu þæt?’ c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 199 Þurrh whatt maȝȝ icc nu witenn þiss? ΚΠ 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 28 God..wat quhat-to [1489 Adv. quhat-till] all thing efferis. g. In elliptical phrases with an adverb, conjunction, or preposition, the precise sense of which varies with and may usually be inferred from the context or circumstances. (a) (i) what about ——: ‘what is to be done with regard to ——’, ‘what do you think of ——’, ‘what is there to say about ——’, etc. (used esp. as a way of refocusing a conversation). Cf. whataboutism n. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > making inquiries [phrase] how so?a1375 what, how seemeth you?1485 what reck?a1513 what is the matter?c1520 what about ——1662 what's the row?1810 how come?1848 whassa1906 since when?1907 what'sa matter1935 1662 Brief Narr. Stupendious Trag. 25 What about Nathaniel Gibbs? 1697 E. Ravenscroft Anatomist i. ii. 5 What about my Daughter? 1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. iii. 113 What about Mr.—, Sir? 1792 J. Robinson Yorker's Stratagem ii. i. 22 Mr. Fingercash. You know my clerk? Amant. Yes, what about him? 1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek ii. 34 What about the cattle-marks? 1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker xv. 242 ‘What about the men?’ I asked. ‘They know too much by half.’ 1914 ‘I. Hay’ Knight on Wheels xiii. §5 Game and rubber..! Now, what about bed? 2007 Guardian 26 May (Guide Suppl.) Central Listings 52/3 What about Simon? The nice-but-dim estate-agenty one who looks a bit like a Disney boy turned adult. (ii) what about it: ‘what is there to say about it’; (also) ‘what is your opinion concerning it’ (used esp. as a way of proposing or suggesting something). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > subject to outside forces [phrase] > querying possibility what ifOE what about it1778 1778 Northern Fox Hunt iii. 15 I ca'd you ††††† I own, just now; But, what about it? Sure a' a' the country kens 'tis true, And nane does doubt it. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor viii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 155 ‘I don't know whether you have or not,’ said Bucklaw; ‘but what about it, though you had?’ 1889 ‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob ii ‘Did anybody tell you about the Manor Lodge?’ ‘No, not a word; what about it?’ 1927 H. A. Vachell Dew of Sea & Other Stories 259 Your head keeper says we must have two guns apiece. Now—what about it? 1982 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 2nd Ser. Episode 6. 112 What about it then Rodney, eh? Me and you, eh? 2004 M. Beaumont Marsha Mellow & Me x. 126 ‘Now, if I might be allowed to give you some advice. Dress.’ ‘What about it?’ ‘Wear one, my darling.’ ΚΠ 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 63 Ye shall haue verie few, but say, that they are enimies to euill... But what? As they neuer knew what goodnes meant, so they knowe as little of the contrarie. 1605 P. Erondelle French Garden N 7 b O Marguerite!..thou hast beene heeretofore greatly esteemed in France, but what? all other thinges doe wither,..as well as flowers. (c) what else: what else should be the case; (formerly also, as an emphatic affirmative reply) †certainly (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase] to iwissea1000 mid iwissea1000 in wisc1000 to wis(se)c1000 without(en (any) weenc1175 sans fail1297 thereof no strife1297 but werea1300 forouten werea1300 out of werea1300 without werea1300 without deceit1303 for certainc1320 it is to wittingc1320 withouten carec1320 without nayc1330 without noc1330 without (but out of) dread1340 no doubtc1380 without distancec1390 no fresea1400 out of doubta1400 without doubta1400 for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400 withouten stance14.. hazel woods shakea1413 of, on, in warrantisec1440 sure enough?1440 without question?1440 wythout diswerec1440 without any dispayrec1470 for (also of) a surety?a1475 in (also for) surenessa1475 of certainc1485 without any (also all) naya1500 out of question?1526 past question?1526 for sure1534 what else1540 beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542 to be a bidden by1549 out of (also without) all cry1565 with a witness1579 upon my word1591 no question1594 out of all suspicion1600 for a certain1608 without scruple1612 to be sure1615 that's pos1710 in course1722 beyond (all) question1817 (and) no mistake1818 no two ways about it (also that)1818 of course1823 bien entendu1844 yessiree1846 you bet you1857 make no mistake1876 acourse1883 sans doute1890 how are you?1918 you bet your bippy1968 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus v. v. sig. Bb But I se my father, but what now may I do? may I go to hym? what els. Father I haue synned into the heuen and before the. 1592 J. Lyly Midas iv. iii Pet. Wel, tis hard to haue ones browes imbroidered with bugle. Licio. But canst thou blowe it? Hunts. What els? Min. But not away. 1605 True Chron. Hist. King Leir i. sig. E4v Am. To expiate or mittigate his wrath: For he hath misconceyued without a cause. Gon. O, I, what else? a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse v. iii in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ffff2v/1 1 Sh. Do you think this great man will continue here? 2 Sh. Continue here? what else? hee has bought the great Farme. 1771 Lady's Mag. Nov. 200/2 El. Something else must be thought of. Hor.What else? 1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) i. xiii. 115 Pancks put the counter question, ‘What else?’ It packed up, in the smallest compass, a weight that had rested on Clennam's life; and he made no answer. 1980 Verbatim Spring 2/2 That edition is now known as (what else?) ‘The Printer's Bible’. 2002 N.Y. Times Mag. 25 Mar. 114/3 The same quality extra-virgin olive oil..has recently been repurposed—as (what else?) a beauty aid. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > however, nevertheless, notwithstanding though-whetherc897 nathelesseOE though971 whetherOE yetOE neverlOE what for-thyc1175 nethelessa1200 never the latterc1225 algatec1230 in spite of (despite, maugre, etc.) one's teethc1230 nought for thatc1275 (all) for noughtc1325 (in) spite of one's nosec1325 alway1340 thoughless1340 ne'er the later (also latter)a1382 ne'er the lessa1382 neverlatera1382 neverthelessa1382 ne for-thia1400 neverlessa1400 not-againstandinga1400 nauthelessc1400 nouthelessc1400 algatesc1405 noughtwithstanding1422 netherless?a1425 notwithstanding1425 nethertheless1440 not gainstandingc1440 not the lessa1450 alwaysa1470 howbeit1470 never þe quedera1475 nought the lessc1480 what reck?a1513 nonetheless1533 howsomever1562 after all1590 in spite of spite1592 meantime1594 notwithstand1596 withal1596 in the meanwhile1597 meanwhile1597 howsoever1601 in (one's) spite?1615 however1623 in the meantime1631 non obstante1641 at the same time1679 with a non-obstante to1679 stilla1699 the same1782 all the same1803 quand même1825 still and all1829 anyhow1867 anyway1876 still and ona1894 all the samey1897 just the same1901 but1939 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8105 Acc whatt forr þi nass þatt nohht don. ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 112 Nevyr þe les what for thy..With-owth mannys company she myght not be with childe. (e) what if: what is or would be the case if.., what will or would happen if.., what does it matter if.., etc.; (often expressing a hypothesis or proposal) ‘suppose..’, ‘supposing..’. Similarly † what and, † what and if (see and conj.1 II.) (obsolete (archaic in later use)). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > subject to outside forces [phrase] > querying possibility what ifOE what about it1778 OE tr. Vindicta Salvatoris (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) in J. E. Cross Two Old Eng. Apocrypha (1996) 275 Gea hlaford, and hwæt gif ic swylcne man gemete, hwylce mede sceal ic hym behatan? a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 149 Wat if he leue haue of ure Heuen-Louerd For to deren us? a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) ii. l. 15 What ȝif þylk beest ȝe hadden herd tellyng hys own wordeȝ? c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 74 Saynt Basll sayd; ‘what & I dye nott or to-morn?’ 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. iv. 9 What and if His sorrowes haue so ouerwhelmde his witts? View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 174 What if all Her stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament Of Hell should spout her Cataracts of Fire. View more context for this quotation 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. i. 21 My ship sails to-morrow...What if you go in her as a passenger? 1838 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 6 Oct. 291/2 ‘Oh, Jacques, are you going to fight?’ ‘Yes, Louise.’ ‘And what if you are killed?’ ‘Then I shall be happy, my dear, for I shall not see strangers and conquerors enter Paris.’ 1876 R. Browning Fears & Scruples x What, and if your friend at home play tricks? 1995 Guardian 28 Jan. (Outlook section) 21/7 What if firms accept e-money as payment for goods and use it to pay workers? 2019 A. Ridker Altruists v. 84 What if we went somewhere? Like a trip? I can borrow a car. (f) what now: (a) what is it now, what’s wrong this time; (b) what do I (we, you, etc.) do now, what next. ΚΠ c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 586 Hwet nu, unwreste men.., nu is ower stunde; hwi studgi ȝe ant steuentið so stille? c1300 St. Dunstan (Laud) l. 591 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 18 ‘Ȝwat nou?’ quath þis bolde maister: ‘ȝwy ne habbe ȝe him i-brouȝt?’ 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. iii. 101 Pand. Do you heere my Lord... Troyl. What now? 1835 J. W. Orderson Fair Barbadian i. ii. 11 Heyday ! What now? What is the meaning of all this? 1901 G. B. Shaw Caesar & Cleopatra iii. 149 Auxiliaries. Alarm! Alarm!.. Centurion. What now? has the old woman attacked you again? 1931 W. Faulkner Sanctuary xix. He standing there listening to the sweet cloistral bell, thinking Now what? What now? and answering himself: Why, nothing. Nothing. It's finished. 1988 C. Manson Manson in his own Words 180 I pulled the trigger. Click, nothing happened. Crowe smiled and I thought, ‘Oh fuck, what now?’ 2011 M. C. Beaton As Pig Turns (2012) 283 Mrs. Ada Benson called on Mrs. Bloxby. The vicar's wife looked at her wearily. ‘What now?’ she asked. (g) (i) what of——: what is to be said of——, what do you think of——, what comes of or follows from——. ΚΠ a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. Prol. l. 200 Quhat of bewte, quhar honeste lyis ded? 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. i. 228 I am thought as faire as shee. But what of that? Demetrius thinkes not so. View more context for this quotation a1821 J. Keats Otho i. i, in R. M. Milnes Life, Lett. & Lit. Remains Keats (1848) II. 119 To me! What of me, ha? 1826 J. Galt Last of Lairds xvii. 151 ‘I understood that Mr. Mailings..was one of your most particular friends.’ ‘Well, and what of that?’ 1877 D. M. Wallace Russia xxvi. 419 But what of their Panslavistic Aspirations? This is a subject which has at present a special interest, but on which there is not much to be said. 1956 N. Algren Walk on Wild Side (1992) ii. 268 Sure he'd been drunk but what of that? 2014 Labour Hist. 107 256 What of the explosion in social media? (ii) what of it: why should that be considered significant. ΚΠ 1589 W. Warner Albions Eng. (new ed.) vi. xxx. 132 Nay, be it that he should espie false carding, what of it? 1663 T. Porter Witty Combat i. ii. sig. B3 Pars...ah, ah, ah, ah, this hand yea this same hand of yours. Mod. And what of it Sir? Pars. It melts like Butter 'gainst the Sun believe me, I would come neerer verily, that is unto your Lip. 1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxviii. If this young lord does dog your footsteps, and whisper his drivelling inanities in your ears, what of it? It's a dishonourable passion. 1912 C. Mackenzie Carnival xxi. 217 ‘I saw you go off with a fellah.’ ‘What of it, Mr. Nosy Parker?’ 2011 C. McGuigan in A. Bissett & C. MacDougall New Writing Scotl. 29 98 Even if I do get caught, well, what of it? The employment crisis won't affect call centres. (h) what then: what happens or would happen in that case; what of that (cf. then adv. 4). ΚΠ a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) ix. l. 54 What þenn? dampne we þe olde? 1564 Briefe Exam. ****ij What then? Did he not appoynt temperall rites? a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. iv. 23 Say I do speake with her (my Lord) what then? 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. iv. 108 But if..they..dropt off and left me one by one, what then? 1899 H. G. Wells Star in Peterson Mag. Dec. 1194/2 Stop a planet in its flight, rob it of its centrifugal force, what then? Centripetal has it, and down it falls into the sun! 2012 Independent 20 Jan. 17/4 What if I never get to sleep? What then? (i) (i) what though..: what happens or would happen in view of the fact that, or on the supposition that... Now chiefly archaic or poetic.Nearly = what if at Phrases 1g(e), but implying some opposition between the circumstance mentioned and the possible one implied; cf. though conj. 4. ΚΠ OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xl 530 Se witega cwæð, þæt se miccla Godes dæig is swiþe gehende, & þearle swift... Hwæt þeah hit langsum wære to þan dæge swa hit nis þeah ne bið ure tima langsum. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale (Hengwrt) (1872) Prol. l. 4003 What though thyn hors be bothe foul and lene If he wol serue thee, rekke nat a bene. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 106 What though the field be lost? All is not lost. 1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 245 What tho' we let some better sort of fool Thrid ev'ry science, run thro' ev'ry school? 1821 R. Heber in Evangelical Mag. July 316 What tho' the spicy breezes Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle... In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown. 1893 H. Jacobs Lay of Southern Cross 95 What though, like the rushing torrent, ye make havoc and destroy, Executing God's high warrant, Dashing down men's cup of joy. 1952 E. J. Pratt in R. Brown & D. Bennett Anthol. Canad. Lit. in Eng. (1982) I. 299 What though the odds were nine to one against. 2016 South Bend (Indiana) Tribune (Nexis) 23 Oct. c9 What though the odds, Duke won over defenseless Notre Dame. ΚΠ 1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xvi. 73 What thoughe quod he, drawe you not abacke. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. iii. 46 Heere wee haue no Temple but the wood... But what though? Courage. View more context for this quotation 1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 54 What though? because the Vulturs had then but small pickings; shall we therefore go and fling them a full gorge? (j) what next: see next adj. 9c. what say: see say v.1 and int. Phrases 8d(a). See also what-not n. 1a. h. In various other interrogative phrases, with a finite verb. ΚΠ OE St. Euphrosyne (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1900) II. 352 Þa wearp he him wæter on, and hine up ahof and cwæð: hwæt is þe, min hlaford? c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 1951 Bernard, hwat is þe? Hwo haues þe þus ille maked? c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 2720 Þo sede on to an oþer, merlin, wat is þe. Þou faderlese ssrewe, wy misdostou me. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 20379 Whi wepestou what is þe For alle loues telle now me. (b) what do you lack (also what lack you): used as a salesman's cry; hence (a name for) an itinerant vendor or pedlar (cf. lack v.1 3). Now historical. ΚΠ 1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. **2v A secular wit that hath liued all daies of his life by what doo you lacke. 1597 N. Breton Wits Trenchmour sig. E2v The sonne of What lacke you, was become the onely right worshipfull. 1614 J. Cooke Greenes Tu Quoque B 1 What lacke you sir? faire stuffes or veluets? 1664 T. Killigrew Parsons Wedding i. i, in Comedies & Trag. 75 His Father was a..Pedler, a what do you lack, Sir. 1698 W. Salmon Rebuke to Authors of State of Physick in London 24 All the Shows in Bartholomew-Fair, cannot present you with a more Pageant like Introitum. What do you lack, what would you Buy? here are all sorts of Cordial and Distilled Waters. 1938 Daily Mail 18 June 5/3 On Monday five important London stores will be sending up their inviting cry: ‘What do ye lack, ladies?’ 2017 @DerekJohnBryant in twitter.com 17 June. (accessed 21 June 2021) Amazon's anti-comparison shopping patent: the latest version of the traders old cry ‘What lack ye’? (c) what think you of..: are you inclined for.., how would you like... Now rare and archaic. ΚΠ 1642 J. Denham Sophy iv. 29 But stay Gentlemen, what thinke you of a bottle now? 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. iv. 32 ‘What think you of some Eggs and Bacon, Madam?’, said the Landlady. View more context for this quotation 1793 W. Cowper Beau's Reply 27 What think you, Sir, of killing Time With verse address'd to me? 1815 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1959) IV. 742 Should this weather continue, what think you of a Fête champêtre in Caen Groves. 1962 Sunday Times 11 Feb. (Mag.) 38 (advt.) What think you of a holiday in the Royal Palace of Kings of Yugoslavia? (d) what's my thought like? (also †what's my thought?): a guessing game involving similes and word association.what's my thought? may be a different guessing game: N.E.D. (1923) says that this is ‘the same as yes and no’ (Yes and No at yes adv., n., and int. Phrases 2b). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > parlour and party games > [noun] > guessing game > specific what's my thought like?1748 twenty questions1786 charade1826 how, when, and where1843 proverbs1855 hy-spy1876 game1937 I spy (with my little eye)1946 1748 E. Moore Foundling i. iii. 12 Lady Fanny made us laugh last Night, at What's my Thought like, by comparing your Colonel to a great Box o' the Ear. 1776 Town & Country Mag. Dec. 634/1 Those who abound in similes, metaphors, and allusions, retain their childish affection for the game of ‘what's my thought like?’ 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess Prol. 10 We.., like as many girls..play'd Charades..And what's my thought and when and where and how. 1892 Illustr. Sydney News 10 Dec. 17/3 Children at Play. What's My Thought Like?—Everyone sits in a circle [etc.] 1999 D. Wise Great Big Bk. Children's Games 61 Although technically a word association game, What's My Thought Like? requires players to stretch their minds for some creative thinking. (e) colloquial. what's to ——. In questions (frequently rhetorical) with a transitive verb in the infinitive.Cf. earlier more general predicative use of active infinitives, denoting the action of which the predicated noun is the object, at to 11a(c). Interrogative use of this construction has survived in what's to do? (see do v. Phrases 1a). (i) Used rhetorically in negative questions, chiefly with verbs indicating approval, esp. in what's not to like? ΚΠ 1949 E. Rosenberg Go fight City Hall x. 109 ‘You like him,’ Mrs. Bender states. ‘I like him,’ Mrs. Rivkin agrees. ‘What’s not to like?' 1965 N.Y. Times 28 Nov. x. 19/1 Her attitude toward her acting career is casual. ‘What's not to like?’ she asked. ‘Acting is my business.’ 1994 Entertainm. Weekly 29 Apr. 51 We are so besotted with these four... Paul is especially cute... The songs are nice too... What's not to like? 1998 Entertainm. Weekly 30 Jan. 22/1 It's got everything a hip '90s-style one-hour comedy-drama should... So what's not to love? Apparently, a lot. (ii) In positive questions: what is there to ——. ΚΠ 1973 J. Tasca Tear along Dotted Line iii. 60 Stephanie. You don't understand, cynic. Judy. What's to understand? 1985 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 4th Ser. Christmas Special 277/2 Abdul. My apologies, Chief Inspector—couldn't we discuss this in a civilised and gentlemanly manner? Slater. What's to discuss? I've got you bang to rights. 1998 S. O'Connell Angel Bird 203 ‘You'll have to tell me more than that.’‘What's to tell? We split up. End of story.’ 2000 U.S. News & World Rep. 8 May 22/2 What's to lose? That's the argument being made by the Clinton administration, business interests, and economists who are urging Congress to grant China ‘permanent normal trade relations’. (f) colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). what's with ——: what is the reason for ——; what's the matter with ——, what has happened to ——. ΚΠ 1938 Washington Post 27 Jan. 9/1 I'm strictly all right, friend, but what's with that drummer of yours? 1940 J. O'Hara Pal Joey 125 Nick what's with the free food? Explain. 1962 E. Linington Extra Kill viii. 122 He says..‘What's with Whalen?’ When he hears Whalen's out, he gets mad. 1969 ‘V. Packer’ Don't rely on Gemini (1970) viii. 62 ‘What's with you and these long baths?’ Archie asked. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 24 Jan. 1/1 But it's not easy, because an interloper keeps asking depressing questions—such as: How do you feel about the state of the country? What's with the economy? 1978 K. Amis Jake's Thing xv. 158 What's with Jake is that he can't get it up any more, and what's with Brenda is she thinks it's her fault for having gotten middle-aged and fat. 1986 T. Clancy Red Storm Rising (1988) iii. 47 What's with the tile on your deck? I never heard of rubber decks on a ship. 2005 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 31 Dec. 5 I..will defend secularism to the end and detest fundamentalists..but what's with all the rabid anti-Christianity this year? (g) See also what do (also would) you say to, what-d'ye-call-'em n., what's-his-name n. i. With intensive additions, as in what the deuce, what the devil, what the dickens, what in the name of ——, what in the world, what on earth, etc.: see also the nouns. Cf. how adv., int., and n.3 Phrases 4c. ΚΠ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 663 Sche began the wode rage, And axex [read axeth] him what devel he thoghte. c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 196 (MED) What þe deuel hatz þou don, doted wrech? c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 2694 What deuyl haue I with the knyf to do. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. ii. 37 Falst. What a plague meane ye to colt me thus? Prin. Thou liest, thou art not colted, thou art vncolted. View more context for this quotation 1599 T. Heywood 1st Pt. King Edward IV sig. E3 What the dickens is it loue that makes ye prate to me so fondly. 1614 T. Jackson Third Bk. Comm. Apostles Creede ii. 133 What a Gods name, hinders him from doing it? 1709 R. Steele & J. Addison Tatler No. 110. ⁋4 What-a-Pox hast thou to do with Ladies and Lovers? 1757 T. Smollett Reprisal i. viii What the deuce are you afraid of? 1818 P. B. Shelley Let. 8 Oct. (1964) II. 43 What on earth does he mean by some of his inferences! 1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein I. xi. 320 Thinking what in the universe it could be made of. 1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. ii. 55 What the hell are you making such a howling about? 1897 S. Crane Third Violet xvi. 105 I wonder what in blue thunder you mean. 1970 G. Lord Marshmallow Pie xv. 136 What the fuck do you think you're doing? 2012 D. Park Light of Amsterdam xii. 254 Marion, what in the name of God is going on? Have you lost your sense? j. (originally and chiefly U.S.). what the what: used as a euphemistic or humorous substitute for ‘what the hell’, ‘what the fuck’, etc., expressing surprise, exasperation, incredulity, or the like.Popularized by the U.S. satirical television sitcom 30 Rock (2006–13: see quot. 2007). ΚΠ 2007 K. Cannon & T. Fey 30 Rock (transcribed from TV programme) 2nd Ser. Episode 6 What the what?! 2009 @James_Wooten 30 Dec. in twitter.com (accessed 31 Aug. 2021) What on earth possessed me to take a stroll in this weather? What the what was I thinking? 2021 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 11 Sept. 25 A study has..found that..more than five hours of free time a day actually causes greater stress and lowers well-being. Five hours! What the what? P2. Phrases with what as pronoun in indirect questions, chiefly as the object of know and other verbs involving cognition. a. Phrases used as nouns to denote something unknown or only vaguely apprehended or suggested, or something that need not be specified.See also know-not-what n., watnawhat n., you-know-what. (a) I don't know (also †I know not, †I wot not) what. [Compare classical Latin nesciō quid, Middle French, French je ne sais quoi.] Quot. OE shows Old English nāthwæt (pronoun) ‘something’, literally ‘I don't know what’ (with the first element cf. Forms 2aα. (b) at wit v.1). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > anonymity or lack of a name > [noun] > thing or person whose name is forgotten or unknown swilk and swilkc1175 thinga1325 what-call-ye-him1473 who knows what?1548 I don't know (also I know not, I wot not) what1568 God (also (the) Lord) knows (also wot) what1569 washical1575 what-d'ye-call-'em1593 so-and-so1596 whiblin1604 so-fortha1616 jiggumboba1625 know-not-whata1642 thingum1652 thingum-thangum1684 what's-his-name1697 something or other1706 thingummy1737 thingamabob1751 something1764 what's-her-name1816 conundrum1817 thingamerry1819 thingamajig1824 somebody1825 what's-its-name1839 whangdoodle1852 thingummytite1865 dingus1866 what-not1876 whatsita1882 gilguy1883 gadget1886 dingbat1894 doohickey1914 oojah1917 oojah capivvy1917 oojiboo1918 doodad1920 tiddlypush1923 whosis1923 thingy1927 doodah1928 doofer1937 hootenanny1940 whatchamacallit1942 gizmo1943 frammis1948 whosit1948 whifflow1961 oobyjiver1963 whatsisface1967 oojamaflip1970 what's-her-face1980 OE Riddle 54 5 Hyse..[h]rand under gyrdels hyre stondendre stiþes nathwæt.] 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 815 Thay luve no man effeminat, And haldis thame, bot I wat not quhat, That can nocht be withowt thame. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 154 When he was about to speake (I wot not what) as touching painting-craft. 1840 W. M. Thackeray Barber Cox in Comic Almanack 33 Shouting out, ‘Aha!’ and ‘Sapprrrristie!’ and I don't know what. 1856 H. D. Thoreau Let. 21 May in Corr. (1958) 424 So we shall save some of our money..and lose—I do not know what. a1950 R. H. Williams Let. in W. C. Williams Yes, Mrs. Williams (1982) 28 They received cargos from Europe of rice, flour and I don't know what. 2011 Viz Oct. 21/1 These days there's all these wraps, subs, clubs, paninis, ciabattas and I don't know what. (b) God (also (the) Lord) knows (also wot) what. Cf. lord n. and int. Phrases 2c, god n. and int. Phrases 1d(b)(iii). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > anonymity or lack of a name > [noun] > thing or person whose name is forgotten or unknown swilk and swilkc1175 thinga1325 what-call-ye-him1473 who knows what?1548 I don't know (also I know not, I wot not) what1568 God (also (the) Lord) knows (also wot) what1569 washical1575 what-d'ye-call-'em1593 so-and-so1596 whiblin1604 so-fortha1616 jiggumboba1625 know-not-whata1642 thingum1652 thingum-thangum1684 what's-his-name1697 something or other1706 thingummy1737 thingamabob1751 something1764 what's-her-name1816 conundrum1817 thingamerry1819 thingamajig1824 somebody1825 what's-its-name1839 whangdoodle1852 thingummytite1865 dingus1866 what-not1876 whatsita1882 gilguy1883 gadget1886 dingbat1894 doohickey1914 oojah1917 oojah capivvy1917 oojiboo1918 doodad1920 tiddlypush1923 whosis1923 thingy1927 doodah1928 doofer1937 hootenanny1940 whatchamacallit1942 gizmo1943 frammis1948 whosit1948 whifflow1961 oobyjiver1963 whatsisface1967 oojamaflip1970 what's-her-face1980 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 765 Sent, no man wist whether, to be done wyth, God wot what. 1662 A. Brome Rump (new ed.) i. 52 Next come those idle Twittle-twats, Which calls me many God-knows-whats. 1772 T. Bridges Burlesque Transl. Homer (rev. ed.) 42 Thetis, stroking your knees, as on the ground you sat, and rubbing up, the Lord knows what. 1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto IX lxvii. 38 They fell in love;—she with his face, His grace, his God-knows-what. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xiii. 190 He was always talking about centres of gravity, displacement of fluid, and Lord knows what. 1944 P. Larkin Let. 16 Apr. in Sel. Lett. (1992) 88 He has been getting smashing reviews, comparing him to Keats & the lord knows what. 1958 J. Cannan And be Villain i. 5 That blasted Primrose will have arrived by now—yak yak yak, talking Eve into God knows what. 2005 B. Keating & S. Keating Blood Sisters (2006) x. 187 Our herds could be infected with foot-and-mouth and God knows what. (c) who knows what, †you know (also wot) not what. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > anonymity or lack of a name > [noun] > thing or person whose name is forgotten or unknown swilk and swilkc1175 thinga1325 what-call-ye-him1473 who knows what?1548 I don't know (also I know not, I wot not) what1568 God (also (the) Lord) knows (also wot) what1569 washical1575 what-d'ye-call-'em1593 so-and-so1596 whiblin1604 so-fortha1616 jiggumboba1625 know-not-whata1642 thingum1652 thingum-thangum1684 what's-his-name1697 something or other1706 thingummy1737 thingamabob1751 something1764 what's-her-name1816 conundrum1817 thingamerry1819 thingamajig1824 somebody1825 what's-its-name1839 whangdoodle1852 thingummytite1865 dingus1866 what-not1876 whatsita1882 gilguy1883 gadget1886 dingbat1894 doohickey1914 oojah1917 oojah capivvy1917 oojiboo1918 doodad1920 tiddlypush1923 whosis1923 thingy1927 doodah1928 doofer1937 hootenanny1940 whatchamacallit1942 gizmo1943 frammis1948 whosit1948 whifflow1961 oobyjiver1963 whatsisface1967 oojamaflip1970 what's-her-face1980 ?1548 A. Gilby Answer Deuillish Detection S. Gardiner f. cxviii You seme worthy to be one of those that affirme you knowe not what, beinge puffed vp wyth the fleshly Imaginations of your owne mynde. 1570 R. Sempill Exhortatioun to All Plesand Thingis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 126 Ȝe worke maist lyke ȝe wat not quhat With your Politick heidis. 1648 G. Skutt Let. Ejected Member House of Commons 11 Your Voting men into Prison for High Treason, and Voting them out agen for you know not what. 1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. 105 There are men..who are no subjects of Christ, nor under any Law of grace by Christ, and yet not under the meer Law of Innocency; and therefore are under some other Law (who knows what?) or lawless. 1701 Dr. Wallis in C. R. L. Fletcher Collectanea (1885) I. 330 Under penalty of..(who knows what?). 1975 J. Cacavas Music Arranging & Orchestration 166 I spent a great deal of time at the publishing house of Bourne, Inc., as an arranger, editor, composer and who knows what. 2014 M. Miller Top 100 Windows 8.1 Apps ii. 38 You play as an angel, and there's lots of dungeon crawling, fighting, and who knows what. b. colloquial. to know what's what: to have good judgement, know what is appropriate; to have full knowledge of a particular matter; (now esp.) to be experienced and competent in a particular area. Also with other verbs, as perceive, see, tell, etc. Cf. know v. Phrases 3. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [phrase] to know what's whatc1422 to know where to find a person1565 to see the light1812 to be awake to1813 to know a move or two1819 to get on to ——1880 to get the strength of1890 to be (or get) wise to1896 to get the picture1900 the penny dropped1939 to pick up1944 to get the message1959 to take on board1979 the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > worldly wisdom > have worldly wisdom [phrase] to know what's whatc1422 to know (also learn, show, teach, tell) (a person) a thing or two1760 to know one's way around1814 to have one's head screwed on right (also the right way)1821 to have been around1872 to know (also have) all the answers1896 to know how many (blue) beans make five- c1422 T. Hoccleve Dialogus (Durh.) l. 778 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 138 They me oghten haue in greet cheertee, And elles woot I neuere what is what. a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) l. 432 (MED) Ful sarily þan þare i sat; For wa I wist noght what was what. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. ii. sig. B.j Enamoured quod you? haue ye spied out that? Ah sir, mary nowe I see you know what is what. 1598 Chaucers Dreame in T. Speght Wks. G. Chaucer f. 361v/1 Neither knew I kirke ne saint Ne what was what, ne who was who. 1600 S. Rowlands Letting of Humors Blood Epigr. xxv. 31 Tut, tell me not whats what; I know the law. 1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 12 He knew what's what, and that's as high As Metaphysick wit can flie. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 215 I dare venture to say..that not a common Farrier in the Universe, knows what's what. 1799 tr. Comtesse de Genlis Young Exiles II. xliii. 94 I am an old practioner; and, simple as I look, I can see what's what. 1860 W. M. Thackeray Lovel v I had so much claret on board, I did not much know what was what. 1911 Times 26 Oct. 8/4 My distinguished friend..who appeared as a witness had told me what was what. 1983 P. Fussell Class i. 18 The locals tend to know what's what, even if they feel some uneasiness talking about it. 2001 L. Voss To be Someone 407 I know a great little teacher. A bit shouty, and very bossy, but she'll soon show you what's what. c. Used elliptically for ‘what it is’, ‘what is the truth of the matter’, ‘what is the thing to do’, etc. Chiefly in (I, I'll, I will) tell you what at tell v. Phrases 5b(a); also in similar phrases used to emphasize or call special attention to what is said, esp. in that's what (see that's what at that pron.1, adj.1, adv., and n. Phrases 1d(a)), you know what? (also used in making a proposal) (colloquial). ΚΠ c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 1784 Ye be lyke the swynt catte That wolde haue fissh, but wostow whatte He wold no thinge wete his clowes. 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. v. 83 This tricke will scath you..I know what . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Richard III (1623) iii. ii. 86 Wot you what, my Lord [1597 heare you not the newes], To day the Lords you talke of, are beheaded. 1751 E. Moore Gil Blas iii. 41 I'll tell you what tho'—I can lend you a Regimental Coat of my own. 1899 H. Wyndham Soldiers of Queen viii. 176 Tell you what, Bill, you can start your stock with one of my old shirts for the price of a quart. 1922 Munsey's Mag. May 721/1 Can you beat that? And you know what? They was going to grab what dough they could and run and leave me there. 1957 S. Grapes Boy John Lett. (1974) 84 Do you know what? Oul Mrs. W—— allus git inter a frap when she go up ter Norridge. 1960 H. Pinter Room 98 You know what though? It looks a bit better. It's not so windy. 2014 Independent (Nexis) 27 May 42 There are politicians with a vested interest in persuading us that it's immigration..which really threatens this country. But, you know what? Ukip can kiss my chuddies. d. to know what something is: to be conscious of what something implies or may involve; (hence) to have had experience of something. Usually with anticipatory it and infinitive. Also with other verbs and expressions, such as remember, have an idea of. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be versed or skilled [verb (intransitive)] to have the way (also ways)?1520 to know what something is1535 practise1542 skilla1586 to be one's craftsmaster1594 to know the ropes1802 to know one's way around1861 to know (something) backwards1904 to know one's stuff1927 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > be experienced [phrase] to know the ginc1530 to know what something is1535 to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot1580 to know one's way around1814 to be more than seven1896 to know whereof one speaks (or writes, etc.)1922 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Chron. xii. B They shalbe subdued vnto him, yt they maye knowe what it is to serue me, & to serue the kyngdomes of the worlde. 1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Ev Thou know'st not what it is, With iauelings point a churlish swine to goare. View more context for this quotation 1608 M. Kellison Reply Sotcliffes Answer Ep. Ded. sig. a v Till miserie had taught the prodigal Sonne wit, he neuer knew what it was to liue at home in his Fathers howse. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 26. ¶7 Though I am always serious, I do not know what it is to be melancholy. 1860 W. M. Thackeray Roundabout Papers ii, in Cornhill Mag. Mar. 383 As for the first night at a strange school, we most of us remember what that is. 1885 G. B. Shaw Let. 29 Dec. (1965) I. 149 Paquito has not the remotest idea of what it is to be exploited on the piece-work system by newspapers. 1901 W. R. H. Trowbridge Lett. Mother to Elizabeth xiii. 58 To know what dust is, you must come to Switzerland in August; the road was like driving through sand. 1974 L. Murray Coll. Poems (1991) 98 My great-grandfather John Is Remembering what it is to conquer country: Brush soil upturned, Thin-legged black people who would show you fruit. 2001 Times 6 July (Goodwood Festival Suppl.) 15/1 The drivers who race their cars up the Hill might touch speeds of 160mph but they do not know what excitement is. e. what becomes of, what's become of, etc.: see become v. 4. P3. Phrases with what as nominal relative pronoun. a. In phrases expressing unspecified miscellaneous other items. (a) what else: (originally elliptically) whatever else there may be; (with loss of relative function) anything else, anything and everything. Now rare. ΚΠ 1575 T. Cartwright Second Replie agaynst Dr. Whitgiftes Second Answer p. lx. And iff the taking vp off a straw, be donne to good ende, either off helping him selfe, or others, regarde of profite, or pleasure, or what els. 1579 Rastell's Expos. Termes Lawes (new ed.) at Reservation Theyr reseruations were as wel..in vittailis, whether flesh, fishe, corne, bread, drinke, or what els, as in money. 1586 Earl of Leicester Let. 3 Feb. in Corr. (1844) 85 Impostes, customes, and what ells that yeld them money. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 51 Warwicke..in conclusion winnes the King from her, With promise of his Sister, and what else, To strengthen and support King Edwards place. View more context for this quotation 1659 in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1919) July 287 That..you will afford the best of your assistance..and what elce needfull. 1873 J. Ruskin Crown Wild Olive App. xi. 201 The right to keep everything and every place about you in as good order as you can—Prussia, Poland, or what else. 2004 Courier Mail (Queensland, Austral.) (Nexis) 10 Jan. 28 Take this from the US Fox Network's Bill O'Reilly: ‘I don't care about him doing whatever he does with crocodiles or what else. But you don't use a baby.’ (b) colloquial. what have you: (chiefly after or or and) anything else similar. ΚΠ 1911 Penny Illustr. Paper 23 Dec. 808/2 (advt.) Will exchange a slightly damaged bird cage for good touring car, or what have you? 1924 Editor 26 Apr. p. vi./2 Judge [a weekly]..wants amusing, or emotion-stirring drawings and text-essays, satires, sketches, burlesques, jokes, paragraphs—or what have you? 1944 W. H. Auden For Time Being (1945) 115 Disguising himself as a swan or a bull or a shower of rain or what-have-you. 1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes 163 Too busy or going on leave or what-have-you. 2003 A. Strauss Joy of Funerals 187 I believe she's a shopaholic. Spends thousands each month on clothing and what-have-you. b. In expressions disclaiming knowledge, concern, etc., on the part of the speaker or someone else, esp. in for what I (also you, etc.) care, for what I (also you, etc.) know; cf. for all I care at care v. 2b, for all (that) —— knows at know v. Phrases 12. Cf. for prep. 25b. Now somewhat rare. ΚΠ 1629 J. Gaule Distractions 487 The little I haue, may (for what I know) out-last my Life. 1685 G. Jeffreys Charge given by Lord Chief Justice 3 For what I know, the greatest part of this City had perished; and yet you are willing to believe it was Accident. 1696 M. Pix Spanish Wives ii. 16 Lord! Lord! your Head is always upon Cuckolding, All the Cuckolds may be hang'd, for what I care. 1758 A. Murphy Upholsterer ii. 33 He may go to Jericho for what I cares. 1798 C. Smith Young Philosopher I. 22 She may die for what you know. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian x, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 247 It may have been murdered for what I can tell. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. viii. 175 Adam Bede and all his kin might be drownded for what you'd care. 1875 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera V. lx. 332 You may think, for what I care, what you please in such matters. 1988 Sun Herald (Sydney) (Nexis) 12 June 101 When he died he allowed all his affairs to fall into the hands of his latest wife. She may be an angel for all I know, and for what I care. P4. Phrases with what as adjective (determiner). a. As the object of know, forming a modifying phrase with the sense ‘some unknown or undefined ——’, ‘some —— or other’, as in I don't know what, heaven knows what, etc.; cf. Phrases 2a. ΚΠ 1535 R. Copland tr. Complaynt of them that be to soone Maryed sig. Biii Her gosseps and her neyghboures to Semblynge lyke a prosessyon God knewe what desstruccyon Drynkynge my wyne all at theyr ease All thynge goeth to perdycyon. a1635 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1906) 3 43 There was present on horse-backe, I knowe not what poetical preacher, named Pourcase. 1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa ii. iii. 205 There has been already some disgusts.., about I know not what reducement of the Light-horse. 1700 P. Motteux et al. tr. M. de Cervantes Hist. Don Quixote I. iii. vi. 201 A Wallet at her Back, wherein they say she carried a piece of a Looking-Glass, half a Comb, a broken Pot with Paint; and I don't know what other Trinkum Trankums to prink her self up. 1883 Cent. Mag. Jan. 409/1 We may see kings, queens, dukes, counts, sheikhs, beys, sultans, khedives, pashas, rajahs, and I don't know what potentates besides. 1883 Sat. Rev. 13 Oct. 467/1 Made up of plasters and match-boxes and medicine-bottles and heaven knows what other oddments. 1971 J. Fleming Grim Death iv. 47 One of those floaters who wandered round the markets looking for heaven-knows what scraps of unrecognized treasure. 1999 C. Brookmyre One Fine Day in Middle of Night (2000) 338 They'd been in the thick of it, sharing God-knows-what experiences together, from foreplay to gunplay. b. (a) what time: (as a compound conjunction) at the time, or at any time, at which; when; whenever; while. Similarly what day, what while. Now rare (chiefly literary and regional). ΚΠ J. Gaytryge Lay Folks' Catech. (York Min.) (1901) l. 65 (MED) Teche tham thair childir..What tyme so thai er of eld to lere tham. c1475 Antichrist & Disciples in J. H. Todd Three Treat. J. Wycklyffe (1851) p. cxxiv Seynt Ion..seide what tyme he lyued þat þenne weren many antecristis. a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) l. 4225 What tyme that eny kyng weddid shuld be..The kyng and she shuld neuer togeder mete. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Zech. viii. 14 Like as I deuysed to punysh you, what tyme as youre fathers prouoked me vnto wrath. 1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 21 in Justa Edouardo King What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. xx. 190 What time the monster of the Deep pursued The Hero. 1861 D. G. Rossetti tr. Dante Vita Nuova in Early Ital. Poets ii. 299 It is your fickleness..makes me tremble thus What while a lady greets me with her eyes. c1882 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 93 Walked with the wind what while we slept. 1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche vii. ii. 79 Was the contest waged What day the Sirens with the Muses strove. 1936 W. B. Pemberton Carteret ix. 253 He and his brother were quietly mobilising their forces what time a rollicking..Carteret dictated optimistic despatches. 1945 R. Hargreaves Enemy at Gate 24 One side getting ready for the next time what-time the other as carefully and methodically prepared themselves to fight the last. 1963 Mountain Life (Berea, Kentucky) 39 ii. 53 He might declare his willingness to ‘cross hell on a rotten log fer a chanch fer to give 'er a piece o' the workin's o' his mind, er aither nuver speak to the slankin' thang agin what time breath's in his old cyarcass, one.’ ΚΠ 1413 in J. Robertson Illustr. Topogr. & Antiq. Aberdeen & Banff (1862) IV. 643 And att what tyme at the forsayde lady may be tretyt till vpp gyff tha landis..till infeffe William Frasare in the sayde landys. 1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere vi. p. cccxxiii Tyndale muste of reason geue vs leue to laugh at hys prowde inuented folye. And I shall fynde hym foure suertyes..that at what tyme herafter he proue hym selfe a trewe prophete, I shall vppon reasonable warnynge onlaugh agayne yt all. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 65 The kinges Ambassadors repulsed of the French king returned, at what tyme he sent another Ambassade vpon the lyke cause. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 128 I read..that it was builded..in the time of Edward the third of England; at what time our Kings..had as yet nothing to doe in this Citie. 1648 J. Evelyn Let. 18 Dec. in Diary & Corr. (1852) III. 34 Abstaining from using uncivil terms at what time they differed in judgment. 1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme iii. ix. §3 He gave up the Ghost about the third hour of the night, at what time a black Cat..ran to his bed. 1707 N. N. tr. J. Crasset Hist. Church of Japan II. 91 With that we all retir'd to our Prayers, and persever'd in them till next Morning, at what time I said Mass. P5. colloquial. what all. a. Used in phrases as the object of know to denote things unknown or unspecified, usually at the end of a list, following and. Cf. Phrases 2a. (a) I don't know (also †I know not) what all. ΚΠ 1609 R. Tynley Two Learned Serm. ii. 44 For these haue made vnto themselues,..their Image-gods, of gold, siluer, brasse, wood, stone, and I know not what all. 1702 S. Parker tr. Cicero Five Bks. De Finibus Transl. Pref. The Grandeur, Eloquence, Neatness, and I know not what all, of an Author's Expression. 1850 J. D. Hooker Let. 26 Nov. in C. Darwin Corr. (1988) IV. 374 Palms Tree-ferns Camellia leaves & I do not know what all. 1859 E. C. Gaskell Haunted House: Ghost in Garden Room in All Year Round Extra Christmas No., 13 Dec. 33/1 There's examins, and catechizes, and I dunno what all for him to be put through. 1980 R. Rhodes Last Safari i. v. 95 He had the names of hundreds of bullfighters at his fingertips. And all the terminology. Veronicas and gaoneras and mariposas and farols and I don't know what all. 1998 B. Kingsolver Poisonwood Bible (1999) ii. 165 Using these people like slaves in your rubber plantations and your mines and I don't know what all? (b) deuce knows what all, God knows what all, the Lord knows what all, who knows what all, etc. ΚΠ a1652 R. Brome New Acad. i. 15 in Five New Playes (1659) Think of me your brother, that has spent In down-right fellowship (heaven knows what All fraudulent purposes to make any man A miser or a gainer by't). 1762 Beauties of all Mag. Sel. I. 8/2 I suppose, you'll open upon me with morality; right and wrong; and the Devil knows what all. 1766 W. Kenrick Falstaff's Wedding i. v. 6 That..I was obliged to pay the lord-knows-what-all away for one thing or other. 1785 H. Polesworth Fragm. Hist. John Bull, Esq. vii. 52 A vast expence in cooks, scullions, firing, and God knows what all. 1832 Fraser's Mag. Sept. 157/1 We have surely been raving about sun, moon, and stars—flowers, birds, and distant hills—necessity, women, and deuce knows what all, when we ought to have given an account of the Indian nautch-dance. 1948 S. J. Perelman Westward Ha! i. 14 By judicious shopping I managed to gather a splendid kit for my journey—a machete, a sola topee, a poncho, an apparatus for distilling seawater, and deuce knows what-all. 1986 R. Ford Sportswriter viii. 202 You can see the UPS truck on our street every day still, leaving off hammocks and smokers and God knows what all. 1993 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 25 Dec. e4 (advt.) We've got a following made up of New Agers, old lefties, marketing gurus, political hacks, jet-setters, whole earthers, and who knows what all. b. Uses as a compound pronoun. (a) U.S. colloquial, Irish English (northern), and Indian English. With reference to a plurality of items: (as interrogative pronoun and nominal relative pronoun) what things; (as adjective) what —— severally.In West Ulster English, all can be separated; e.g. What all did you get for Christmas? varies with What did you get all for Christmas? ΚΠ 1878 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Daily Sentinel 1 July 7/3 He uster su'scribe a heap er deaf an' dum' an'mals. I 'members one Foaf July he su'scribed,—lem me see if I can 'member what all he did su'scribe. Thar wus two oxes an' 'leven milk cows. 1883 Rep. Comm. 233 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (47th Congr., 2nd Sess.: Senate Rep. 981) II. While you were at Statesville what took place?—A. I cannot tell you what all did take place. 1912 Congress. Rec. 7 Dec. 270/1 Q. What all did he say and what all did you say?—A. I do not know as I could repeat it all. 1931 K. A. Porter Let. 24 Apr. (1990) i. 38 Gene is apt to say ‘Stop talking rot’ when Hart gets explaining what all is wrong with my attitude towards Mexico. 1942 W. Faulkner Go down, Moses & Other Stories 76 My mind gonter change about whatall I seed. 1959 F. O'Connor Let. 25 Apr. in Habit of Being (1979) 329 My cousin left me a house in Savannah and I am now learning whatall it needs. 1963 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 63 62/3 ‘I just got so much to do...’ ‘What all do you have to do?’ 1997 C. B. Divakaruni Mistress of Spices 226 This chai is very good, What-all spices did you put in it? 2011 Prairie Schooner 85 64 I can name whatall is missing. I can name everything I've lost. (b) Used to denote things unknown or unspecified, usually at the end of a list, following and.Perhaps formed by ellipsis from Phrases 5a. ΚΠ 1901 H. Sutcliffe Mistress Barbara Cunliffe 9 Some reckon Tib helps him wi' his black magic, an' his turning stones to gold, an' what all. 1947 E. Meynell Sussex ix. 225 Sheep are most unfortunate creatures in the infections to which they are liable—the foot rot..and the liver-fluke and what all. 1957 J. Kerouac On the Road iii. iv. 202 Weariness and..sorrow and what-all was on his mind. 1962 A. Lurie Love & Friendship vii. 123 That old Mr Higginson... Got his house full of bird dirt and what-all. 2001 T. Winton Dirt Music (2003) 25 Went to the university and what-all. P6. what you see is what you get. a. Used to indicate that someone or something is or behaves exactly as one would expect judging by appearance. ΚΠ 1912 Granite, Marble & Bronze Aug. 5 (advt.) Dealers who demand the limit in quality will appreciate our standard product. ‘What you see is what you get.’ 1955 Washington Post 4 Sept. g4/1 (advt.) The complete G.E. kitchen is in the price of the home... No extras—what you see is what you get! 2000 N.Y. Mag. 3 Jan. 26/2 It is this retro, tough-guy, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, no-nonsense approach that has made him the most influential media reporter in the city. 2021 @_alyssssssac 27 May in twitter.com (accessed 28 July 2021) So happy I don’t have a fake image to maintain. With me, what you see is what you get. Some days I'm an amazing light and others, I'm an absolute wreck. b. Computing. Designating a program or interface which allows content to be edited in a form resembling its ultimate appearance on a printout, website, etc.; = WYSIWYG adj. ΚΠ 1982 Byte Apr. 264/2 ‘What you see is what you get’ (or WYSIWYG) refers to the situation in which the display screen portrays an accurate rendition of the printed page. 1991 New Scientist 3 Aug. 42/2 For plain text entry EXP acts as a normal what-you-see-is-what-you-get..program. 2008 P. Bauer et al. in P. Atzeni et al. Adv. in Databases & Information Syst. 24 To support user friendly editing of the texts, we developed a What You See Is What You Get editor. < as lemmas |
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