why

in blue blazes?

Used as an intensifier after a question word (who, what, where, when, why, and how) to express extreme confusion, surprise, or aggravation. Primarily heard in US. And just how in blue blazes am I supposed to have three reports done by 9 AM tomorrow? Where in blue blazes did you find that rusty old car? Who in blue blazes is making all that noise?

in (the) blazes?

Used as an intensifier after a question word (who, what, where, when, why, and how) to express extreme confusion, surprise, or aggravation. Primarily heard in US. And just how in blazes am I supposed to have three reports done by 9 AM tomorrow? Where in the blazes did you find that rusty old car? Who in blazes is making all that noise?

in (the) Sam Hill?

Used as an intensifier after a question word (who, what, where, when, why, and how) to express extreme confusion, surprise, or aggravation. Often erroneously written or pronounced as "in Sam Hell." Primarily heard in US. And just how in Sam Hill am I supposed to have three reports done by 9 AM tomorrow? Where in the Sam Hill did you find that rusty old car? Who in Sam Hill is making all that noise?

in tarnation?

Used as an intensifier after a question word (who, what, where, when, why, and how) to express extreme confusion, surprise, or aggravation. Primarily heard in US. And just how in tarnation am I supposed to have three reports done by 9 AM tomorrow? Where in tarnation did you find that rusty old car? Who in tarnation is making all that noise?

in thunderation?

Used as an intensifier after a question word (who, what, where, when, why, and how) to express extreme confusion, surprise, or aggravation. Primarily heard in US. And just how in thunderation am I supposed to have three reports done by 9 AM tomorrow? Where in thunderation did you find that rusty old car? Who in thunderation is making all that noise?

no matter what/when/where/why/who/how

Used to emphasize that something is always the case or that something must be done (by someone). No matter how I approach it, I just can't seem to understand this math problem. No matter who does it, this report has got to be finished and on my desk by the end of the week.

why in God's name

A phrase used for emphasis in the beginning of a question, usually because the speaker is incredulous. Why in God's name would you let the kids have candy for dinner? That is so unhealthy! I understand that you had to let the dog out in the rain, but why in God's name didn't you dry him off when he came back in?

why on earth

A phrase used for emphasis in the beginning of a question, usually because the speaker is incredulous. Why on earth would you let the kids have candy for dinner? That is so unhealthy! I understand that you had to let the dog out in the rain, but why on earth didn't you dry him off when he came back in?

that's why

a tag on the end of a statement that is an answer to a question beginning with why. (Shows a little impatience.) Sue: Why do you always put your right shoe on first? Bob: Because, when I get ready to put on my shoes, I always pick up the right one first, that's why! Mary: Why do you eat that awful peppermint candy? Tom: Because I like it, that's why!

Why buy a cow when you can get milk for free?

and Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap?

Prov. Why pay for something that you can get for free otherwise. (Sometimes used to describe someone who will not marry because sex without any commitment is so easy to obtain. Jocular and crude.) I don't have a car because someone always gives me a ride to work. Why buy a cow when you can get milk for free? Mary told her daughter, "You may think that boy will marry you because you're willing to sleep with him, but why should he buy a cow if he can get milk for free?"

why don't you?

a question tag that is put onto the end of a command. Andy: Move aside, why don't you? Bob: Okay. Sorry. I didn't know I was in the way. "Just keep bugging me, why don't you?" threatened Wally. Andy: Try it again, why don't you? Sue: I hope I get it right this time.

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

Prov. You should not do something you have hired someone else to do. Ellen: The cleaning lady washes my floors every Tuesday, but I always wash them over again. Jane: Don't be silly, Ellen. Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

Why not?

1. Lit. Please explain your negative answer. Mother: No, you can't. Mary: Why not? Sue: Could I have another piece of cake? Mary: No. Sue: Why not? Mary: I want it.

2. . Inf. I cannot think of a reason not to, so yes. Bob: You want to go to see a movie next Friday? Jane: Why not? Fred: Do you feel like wandering over to the bowling alley? Tom: Why not?

whys and wherefores of something

the reasons or causes relating to something. I refuse to discuss the whys and wherefores of my decision. It's final. Bob doesn't know the whys and wherefores of his contract. He just knows that it means he will get a lot of money when he finishes the work.

why not

(spoken)

there is no reason not to “Do you want Italian food tonight?” “Sure, why not!” If you're so unhappy there, why not leave right now?

the whys and wherefores (of something)

the reasons for something The movie doesn't spend much time worrying about the whys and wherefores of its stars' behavior.

Why break the habit of a lifetime?

(British & Australian humorous)

something that you say which means that you do not believe that someone will stop doing something bad that they have done all their lives 'I must stop writing my essays the night before the deadline.' 'Why break the habit of a lifetime?'

See make or break

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

(British & Australian)

something that you say which means there is no purpose in doing something yourself when there is someone else who will do it for you Just leave the glasses on the table - the bar staff will collect them. After all, why keep a dog and bark yourself?

the whys and (the) wherefores

the reasons for something I know very little about the whys and the wherefores of the situation.

whys and wherefores

All the underlying causes and reasons, as in She went into the whys and wherefores of the adoption agency's rules and procedures. This idiom today is a redundancy since why and wherefore mean the same thing. Formerly, however, why indicated the reason for something and wherefore how it came to be. [c. 1600]

Why keep a dog and bark yourself

Don't do a chore that should be done by someone you hired to do it. A literal example of the expression would be a home owner who buys, trains, and maintains a guard dog, but stays up all night in case of intruders. Jonathan Swift in Polite Conversation wrote this exchange between a woman of quality and her servant: “‘Good Miss, stir the Fire.' ‘Indeed your Ladyship could have stirr'd it much better.' [To which the woman replied] ‘I won't keep a Dog and bark myself.'”

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Celestino	the-le-STEE-no (Spanish), se-le-STEE-no (Latin American Spanish), che-le-STEE-no (Italian)	Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Abby	['æbi]
Ataahua	-	Maori
Gustav	GOO-stahf (German)	Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
Geoffroi	-	Medieval French
Fortune	FAWR-chən	English (Rare)