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A Writer's Dictionary:

what have you Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with W » what an idea! ... when the chips are down » what have you


what
adj, pronoun
    1. Used in questions, indirect questions and statements, identifying, or seeking to identify or classify, a thing or person.
      Example: What street are we in?
      Example: Tell me what flowers these are
      Example: I've just realized what man you meant
    2. Used in exclamations expressing surprise, sympathy or other emotions
      Example: What! You didn't pass?
      Example: What a fool!
      Example: What she has to put up with!
    3. Used as a relative pronoun or adjective: that or those which; whatever; anything that.
      Example: It is just what I thought
      Example: They gave what money they could
    4. Used to introduce a suggestion or new information
      Example: I know what ― let's go to the zoo!
    5. Used to ask for a repetition or confirmation of something said.
      Example: What? I didn't catch what you said
adverb
    1. Used in questions, indirect questions and statements: to how great an extent or degree?
      Example: What does that matter?
Idiom: give someone what for
    colloq
    To scold or punish them.
Idiom: know what it is
    To know and understand what is involved in a particular action or experience; to have experienced or suffered it.
      Example: He knows what it is to be bullied
Idiom: know what's what
    colloq
    To know what really goes on or what counts, etc; to know the truth of the matter.
Idiom: so what? (what of it?)
    colloq
    Why is that important?
Idiom: what about ...?
    An expression used to make a suggestion or ask an opinion, etc
      Example: What about stopping for a drink first?
Idiom: what else?
    Could anything else be the case?
Idiom: what ... for?
    For what reason ...? to what purpose ...?
      Example: What did you do that for?
Idiom: what have you
    colloq
    Other such things; whatnot.
      Example: CDs, records, tapes or what have you
Idiom: what if ...?
    What would it matter if ...?
      Example: What if she did leave for good?
    What would happen if ...?
      Example: What if he doesn't come back?
Idiom: what is more (what's more)
    More to the point ...; in addition ....
      Example: They came, and what's more, they stayed all evening
Idiom: what ... like?
    A request for a description or opinion on someone or something
      Example: What does he look like?
      Example: What was the theatre like?
Idiom: what next?
    Often said in despair: what is to be done next? what will happen next?
Idiom: what now?
    What can be done now? what other options are there?
    What is the meaning of this latest interruption? what is wrong now?
Idiom: what of ...?
    What comes or follows from ...?
    What is the news of ...?
Idiom: what of it?
    See so what? above.
Idiom: what the hell
    An expression of indifference or abandoned caution.
      Example: Oh what the hell, I'll buy both of them
Idiom: what then?
    What would be the consequence?
Idiom: what's new?
    Tell me the latest news.
    There's nothing new about that!
      Example: She's drunk again. So what's new!
Idiom: what's up?
    What's the matter? is something wrong?
Idiom: what's with ...?
    colloq
    What's the matter with ...?
Idiom: what with
    Because of ...; taking account of ....
      Example: We were exhausted, what with the delays and everything
Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hwæt.

Info:
    What and which may both be used when asking questions about a choice, as in &wbox; although which generally implies a choice from a known or limited number of options, whereas what is used when the choice is unlimited or unspecified.
    ○ Take care not to add a what after than in comparative constructions such as&wbox; . What should only follow than when it means ‘that which' or ‘the things which', as in&wbox; .


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