[whack] See: OUT OF WHACK.

[whale away]{v.}, {informal} 1. To beat or hit hard; strike again and again. — Often used with "at". •/The boxer is whaling away at his opponent with both fists./ 2. To attack severely or again and again; go on without stopping or with great force; pound away. •/Mary has been whaling away on the typewriter for an hour./ — Often used with "at". •/During the election the Mayor whaled away at the other party in his speeches./

[whale the --- out of] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF.

[what] See: COME WHAT MAY, GET WHAT’S COMING TO ONE, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, SO WHAT.

[what about]{interrog.} 1. About or concerning what; in connection with what. — Often used alone as a question. •/"I want to talk to you." "What about?"/ Compare: WHAT FOR. 2. See: WHAT OF IT. 3. See: HOW ABOUT.

[what about that] See: HOW ABOUT THAT.

[What a pity!] How unfortunate! What a shame! •/What a pity that he couldn’t join us on our Hawaiian trip./

[what for(1)]{interrog.} For what reason; why? •/I told Mary what I was going to town for./ •/What are you running for?/ — Often used alone as a question. •/Billy’s mother told him to wear his hat. "What for?" he asked./ Compare: HOW COME.

[what for(2)]{n. phr.}, {informal} A scolding, or other punishment. — Usually used with "get" or "give". •/Tom got what for from his father for answering him rudely, and I heard him crying in the house./ •/The teacher gave me what for because I was late./

[what have you] or [what not] {n. phr.}, {informal} Whatever you like or want; anything else like that. •/The store sells big ones, small ones, medium ones, or what have you./ •/We found suits, coats, hats and what not in the closet./ Syn.: AND SO FORTH.

[what if] What would, or will, happen if; what is the difference if; suppose that. •/What if you go instead of me?/ •/What if we paint it red. How will it look?/ •/"You can’t go now" said mother. "What if I do?" Dick asked./ •/What if Jack scores a touchdown?/

[what is what] See: WHAT’S WHAT.

[what of it] or [what about it] {interj.}, {informal} What is wrong with it; what do you care. •/Martha said "That boy is wearing a green coat." Jan answered, "What of it?"/ •/"John missed the bus." "What of it?"/ Syn.: SO WHAT.

[what not] See: WHAT HAVE YOU.

[what’s cooking] See: WHAT’S UP.

[what’s doing] See: WHAT’S UP..

[what’s sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander] What goes for the one, also goes for the other. — A proverb. •/If Herb gets a speeding ticket, so should Erica, who was right behind him; after all, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander./

[what’s the big idea] or [what’s the idea] {informal} What is the purpose; what do you have in mind; why did you do that; what are you doing; how dare you. — Often used to question someone or something that is not welcome. •/The Smith family painted their house red, white, and blue. What’s the big idea?/ •/What’s the idea of coming in here after I told you not to?/ •/I heard you are spreading false rumors about me, what’s the big idea?/

[what’s the idea] See: WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA.

[what’s up] or [what’s cooking] also [what’s doing] {slang} What is happening or planned; what is wrong. — Often used as a greeting. •/"What’s up?" asked Bob as he joined his friends. "Are you going to the movies?"/ •/What’s cooking? Why is the crowd in the street?/ •/What’s doing tonight at the club?/ •/Hello Bob, what’s up?/ Compare: WHAT’S WITH.

[what’s what] or [what is what] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. What each thing is in a group; one thing from another. •/The weeds and the flowers are coming up together, and we can’t tell what is what./ 2. All that needs to be known about something; the important facts or skills. •/Richard did the wrong thing, because he is new here and doesn’t yet know what’s what./ •/When Bob started his new job, it took him several weeks to learn what was what./ •/When it comes to cooking, Jenny knows what’s what./ •/Harold began to tell the teacher how to teach the class, and the teacher told him what was what./ Compare: WHICH IS WHICH, WHO’S WHO.

[what’s with] or [what’s up with] also [what’s by] {slang} What is happening to; what is wrong; how is everything; what can you tell me about. •/Mary looks worried. What’s with her?/ •/What’s with our old friends?/ •/I’m fine. What’s with you?/

[what with]{prep.} Because; as a result of. •/I couldn’t visit you, what with the snowstorm and the cold I had./ •/What with dishes to wash and children to put to bed, mother was late to the meeting./ Compare: ON ACCOUNT OF.

[wheel] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG WHEEL, GREASE THE WHEELS, PUT ONE’S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.

[wheel and deal]{v. phr.}, {slang} To make many big plans or schemes; especially with important people in government and business; in matters of money and influence; handle money or power for your own advantage; plan important matters in a smart or skillful way and sometimes in a tricky, or not strictly honest way. •/Mr. Smith made a fortune by wheeling and dealing on the stock market./ •/The senator got this law passed by wheeling and dealing in Congress./ — [wheeler-dealer] {n. phr.}, {slang} A person with power and control. •/The biggest wheeler-dealer in the state has many friends in high places in business and government and is a rich man himself./

[wheelhorse]{n. phr.} A reliable and industrious worker on whom one may depend. •/Jake is such a good worker that he is the wheelhorse of our tiny firm./

[when hell freezes over]{adv. phr.}, {slang} Never. •/I’ll believe you when hell freezes over./ Contrast: UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER.

[when it comes to] See: COME TO(4).

[when one’s ship comes in] See: SHIP COME IN.

[when push comes to shove]{adv. phr.} A time when a touchy situation becomes actively hostile or a quarrel turns into a fight. •/Can we count on the boss' goodwill, when push comes to shove?/

[when the chips are down]{adv. clause}, {informal} When the winner and loser of a bet or a game are decided; at the most important or dangerous time. •/Tom hit a home run in the last inning of the game when the chips were down./ •/When the chips were down, the two countries decided not to have war./ (From the fact that in gambling games, a person puts chips or money down in front of him to show that he is willing to risk an amount in a bet.)

[where] See: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF or TELL ONE WHERE TO HEAD IN.

[wherefore] See: WHY AND WHEREFORE.

[where it’s at]{adv. phr.}, {informal} That which is important; that which is at the forefront of on-going social, personal, or scientific undertakings. •/Young, talented and black, that’s where it’s at./ •/We send sophisticated machines to Mars instead of people, that’s where it’s at./

[where the shoe pinches]{n. phr.}, {informal} Where or what the discomfort or trouble is. •/Johnny thinks the job is easy, but he will find out where the shoe pinches when he tries it./ •/The coach said he wasn’t worried about any position except quarterback; that was where the shoe pinched./