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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | hwa |
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who S1 W1
1XX used to ask or talk about which person is involved, or what the name of a person is : 
Who locked the door?Who do you work for? Who's that guy with your wife? They never found out who the murderer was. She wondered who had sent the flowers.
Who locked the door?Who do you work for?Who's that guy with your wife?They never found out who the murderer was.She wondered who had sent the flowers. who on earth/in the world etc (=used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) Who on earth would live in such a lonely place? Who the hell are you?
Who on earth would live in such a lonely place?Who the hell are you?2XX used after a noun to show which person or which people you are talking about : Do you know the people who live over the road? the woman who was driving She was the one who did most of the talking.
Do you know the people who live over the road?the woman who was drivingShe was the one who did most of the talking.3XX used, after a comma in writing, to add more information about a particular person or group of people that you have just mentioned : I discussed it with my brother, who is a lawyer. Alison Jones and her husband David, who live in Hartlepool, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
I discussed it with my brother, who is a lawyer.Alison Jones and her husband David, who live in Hartlepool, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.4 informal used to introduce a question that shows you think something is true of everyone or of no one : We have the occasional argument. Who doesn't? (=everyone does) Who wants to come second? (=no one does)
We have the occasional argument. Who doesn't? (=everyone does)Who wants to come second? (=no one does)5 used to say that someone does not have the right or the authority to say or do something : Who is she to order me around?
who is somebody to do something?
spokenWho is she to order me around?6
who's who
a) if you know who is who within a particular organization or group, you know what each person's name is and what job they do or what position they have : I'm just getting to know who's who in the department.
I'm just getting to know who's who in the department.b) a list of the important people within a particular organization or group - often used to emphasize that many important people are involved in something : The list of competitors reads like a who's who of international tennis players.
a who's who of something
The list of competitors reads like a who's who of international tennis players.