expression of hopelessness or desperation: He came out with a gun and said he would put an end to it. I called the cops but what else can I do ? what else can I do for you—is used as an inquiry by service personnel: “Here’s your prescription. What else can I do for you ?” said the pharmacist. what ever • whatever what ever—is used as a more emphatic variant of “what”: “What ever are you doing in that ridiculous costume?” Jonny let out a girlish giggle… whatever —no matter what: Whatever I say, he always finds a way to tell me that the same thought occurred to him a few weeks earlier. what goes around, comes around • what goes up, must come down what goes around, comes around—one is bound to see the long-term effects of his current actions and behavior: “What goes around comes around ” and eventually each of you will answer for all the lies you have published. what goes up, must come down—when smth. such as a stock price, etc. goes up it will most certainly come down: It is not clear what triggered the price drop: though perhaps it is simply a case of what goes up must come down . what is in it for someone • what is it to someone what is in it for someone—what advantage or benefit can a person receive from smth.: He had an inbred suspicion of any kind of offered help, he wanted to know why people were giv- ing it, what was in it for them. what is it to someone—what business is that of mine, yours, etc.; does it concern me, you, etc.: Now why does that thought gnaw at me? What is it to me if he does not pay more attention to me? what matter • what’s the matter what matter —(coll.) what difference does it make: But what matter from whom he heard this. what’s the matter—1. what happened; what is the problem: What’s the matter , Cynthia? You sound odd. 2. what’s wrong with: I’m a farmer all right. What’s the matter with farming? what with • what’s with what with—on account of smth.; as a result of smth.: The idea of being homesick didn’t even occur to me, what with all the new things that were going on. what’s with—what’s wrong with: It seems that well-educated people should be the most well informed. What’s with these people? what’s up • what’s up with what’s up—1. what is happening; what is going on: You can keep up to date on what’s happening with legislation, new product research, or what’s up in your community. 2. (U.S. sl., also: whassup) is used as a greeting to someone you know well: “Hi, Jim. What’s up ?” “Oh nothing much…. How are you doing?” what’s up with—what’s wrong with: Four out of ten days I have had to weather tornado and flash flood warnings. What’s up with the weather? when it comes down to it • when the chips are down when it comes down to it—(also: when it comes right down to it) when one really thinks about it: Doctors are great, but when it comes right down to it , each of us is in charge of his own health. when the chips are down —when matters become very serious or critical: When the chips are down a man shows what he really is. when the balloon goes up • when the eagle flies when the balloon goes up —(coll.) when matters become very serious or critical: The international rules of war are apt to be waived when the balloon goes up . when the eagle flies —(U.S. sl.) on payday: I’ll pay you back when the eagle flies . Cf.: eagle has landed, the —(U.S. sl.) pay- checks are in: The principal got on the PA [public address sys- tem] and said, “Teachers, may I have your attention please: The eagle has landed .” when the band begins to play • when the fat lady sings when the band begins to play —(coll.) when matters become very serious or critical: …they are supplied with the best of weapons. Naturally only the best is good enough when the band begins to play . when the fat lady sings —(U.S. sl.) when smth. is finally con- cluded; at the end of a match, performance, etc.: We can leave with everybody else when the fat lady sings . Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase when one’s ship comes home—when one comes into money: The other guests on our table all had cabins on the 8th deck. Maybe when “my ship comes home ”—when I become rich I’ll be able to afford a cabin right up high… whip one’s weight in wild cats • whip the cat whip one’s weight in wild cats—(U.S. sl.) be able to fight vigorously; defeat a powerful opponent: I was to get acquainted with Alta Ashbury, win her confidence, let her feel that I was capable of whipping my weight in wild cats . whip the cat—(sl.) 1. (U.S. dated) work as an itinerant tailor, carpenter, etc.: The pioneer shoemaker was Henry Demoney, who was one of the old-fashioned eccentricities who “whipped the cat .” 2. (Austral.) lament over smth.; reproach oneself: It was no use whipping the cat about it now, Morris pointed out. 3. (Austral.) take one’s frustration out on an innocent person: If there’s anything wants doing you’ve only got to ask Macy. And he makes light of it, too. No whipping the cat : no setting himself up as a little tin god. whipping boy • whipping Tom whipping boy—1. (UK hist.) a boy educated with a prince and punished in his stead: Sir Mungo had been attached to Court in the capacity of whipping-boy to King James the Sixth. 2. a scapegoat: The choice of agents is a difficult matter for you have to choose persons for whose faults you are to be punished; to whom you are to be the whipping-boy . whipping Tom—(UK hist.) a person who whips others: Rit- ual beating in commemoration of ritual murder is known in many places. Until 1845 the Whipping Toms plied their whips freely in the streets of Leicester in commemoration of the mas- sacre of the Danes. whistle down the wind • whistle up the wind whistle down the wind—1. talk purposelessly: I know I’m trying to whistle down the wind here. But the technology is likely to arrive sometime in the next century. 2. abandon or sacrifice a person or thing: I was dragged out of the Senate, against my wishes — tried to do my whole duty, and was then unceremoniously “whistled down the wind .” Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase whistle against the wind—(also: whistle in the wind) protest or argue vainly (acting against the mainstream): When all we can do is whistle against the wind , it seems silly to even whistle. whistle up the wind—1. is used of the superstition that bad – 333 – whistle down the wind