Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

15 PHRASE You use what about at the beginning of a question when you make a suggestion, offer, or request. □  What about going out with me tomorrow?

16 PHRASE You use what about or what of when you introduce a new topic or a point which seems relevant to a previous remark. □  Now you've talked about daffodils, what about other flowers, like roses?

17 PHRASE You say what about a particular person or thing when you ask someone to explain why they have asked you about that person or thing. □  'This thing with the Corbett woman.'—'Oh, yeah. What about her?'

18 PHRASE You say what have you at the end of a list in order to refer generally to other things of the same kind. [VAGUENESS ] □  So many things are unsafe these days–milk, cranberry sauce, what have you. □  My great-grandfather made horseshoes and nails and what have you.

19 PHRASE You say what if at the beginning of a question when you ask about the consequences of something happening, especially something undesirable. □  What if this doesn't work out?

20 PHRASE If you know what's what , you know the important things that need to be known about a situation. □  You have to know what's what and when to draw the line. □  You should come across the river with us. Then you will really see what's what.

21what's more → see more USAGE what

Don’t use ‘what’ when you are asking about one of a small number of people or things. For example, if someone has hurt their finger, don’t say to them ‘ What finger have you hurt ?’ Say ‘Which finger have you hurt?’ □  Go down that road.’ – ‘Which one?’

what|ev|er ◆◆◇ / ^h wɒte və ^r /

1 CONJ You use whatever to refer to anything or everything of a particular type. □  Franklin was free to do pretty much whatever he pleased. □  When you're older I think you're better equipped mentally to cope with whatever happens. □  He's good at whatever he does. ● DET Whatever is also a determiner. □  Whatever doubts he might have had about Ingrid were all over now.

2 CONJ You use whatever to say that something is the case in all circumstances. □  We shall love you whatever happens, Diana. □  People will judge you whatever you do. □  She runs about 15 miles a day every day, whatever the weather.

3 ADV [n ADV ] You use whatever after a noun group in order to emphasize a negative statement. [EMPHASIS ] □  There is no evidence whatever that competition in broadcasting has ever reduced costs. □  I have nothing whatever to say.

4 PRON You use whatever to ask in an emphatic way about something which you are very surprised about. [EMPHASIS ] □  Whatever can you mean?

5 CONJ You use whatever when you are indicating that you do not know the precise identity, meaning, or value of the thing just mentioned. [VAGUENESS ] □  I thought that my upbringing was 'normal', whatever that is.

6 PHRASE You say or whatever to refer generally to something else of the same kind as the thing or things that you have just mentioned. [INFORMAL ] □  They tried to get me to play piano, clarinet or whatever, but agreed to buy me the guitar.

7 CONVENTION You say ' whatever you say ' to indicate that you accept what someone has said, even though you do not really believe them or do not think it is a good idea. [FEELINGS ] □  'We'll go in your car, Billy.'—'Whatever you say.'

8 PHRASE You say whatever you do when giving advice or warning someone about something. [EMPHASIS ] □  Whatever you do, don't lose your sense of humour.