what have you

Idioms

What remains and need not be mentioned; and the like. For example, The display room is full of stereos, TV's, and what have you. Although first recorded in 1920, this expression uses an archaic form of putting a question (using have you instead of do you have) as a noun clause, and what in the sense of “anything that.” The synonym who knows what is much older, dating from about 1700; for example, When we cleaned out the tool shed we found old grass seed, fertilizer, and who knows what other junk. Also see or whatever.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What have you done over the years to protect yourself mentally?

From The Wall Street Journal

What have you gotten better at as a lyricist?

From Los Angeles Times

“And what have you there?” the musk ox would say, despite it being fairly obvious what was in Duane’s arms.

From Literature

“What have you done?” she snarled.

From Literature

“A significant differentiator is: What have you done outside the classroom? And what does it tell us about what you’re going to do at our college?”

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023