why-notn.

Brit.

/ˈwʌɪnɒt/, U.S.

/ˈ(h)waɪˌnɑt/

Etymology: The phrase why not? (why adv., int., and n. Phrases 3a) used as a noun.

1. An argument of the form ‘Why not?’, which attempts to leave the opponent without a reply.

ΘΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [noun] > arguments for or against > argument against > instance of

con1590

man of straw1599

antistrophon1611

why-not1611

againsta1817

counter-argument1862

1611 W. Sclater Key 123 That is answere sufficient to all such plausible why-nots.

1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. ii. 105 Capoch'd your Rabbins of the Synod, And snap'd their Canons with a Why-not.

2. Backgammon (see quot. 1680); hence allusively, esp. to take (have, etc.) at a why-not: i.e. at an advantage or in a dilemma.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage

to have at avail1470

to catch, have, hold, take (one) at (a or the) vantagec1510

to gain of1548

to be to the forehand with1558

to have (take) on (in, at) the lurch1591

to get the sun of1598

to have (also get) a good hand against1600

to take (have, etc.) at a why-nota1612

to weather on or upon1707

to have the laugh on a person1767

to have a (or the) pull of (also over, on)1781

to get to windward of1783

to have the bulge on1841

to give points to1854

to get (have) the drop on1869

to hold over1872

to have an (or the) edge on1896

to get (also have) the goods on1903

to get (or have) the jump on1912

to have (got) by the balls1918

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > state of uncertainty, suspense > keep in suspense [verb (transitive)] > place in a dilemma

to take (have, etc.) at a why-nota1612

dilemma1656

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > backgammon > [noun] > actions or positions

lympoldingc1350

blot1598

after-game1601

why-nota1612

non-pass1688

a1612 J. Harington Brief View Church of Eng. in Nugæ Antiquæ (1804) II. 144 This game..by certaine bootie play betweene a Protector and a Bishop, (I suppose it was at Tick-take), was like to have been lost with a why not?

1680 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester (ed. 2) 113 This is the plain Game of Tick-Tack, which is called so from Touch, and take, for if you touch a man you must play him though to your loss; and if you hit your Adversary and neglect the advantage, you are taken with a Why-not, which is the loss of one.

c1680 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1904) II. 335 You catch me with a why-not still: Indeed my memory growes bad.., and things go out as fast as they come into my head now.

1720 D. Manley Power of Love v. 285 He took me at a why not! naked, without Cloaths and Weapons.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison VI. xxv. 142 Now, Dame Selby, I have you at a why-not.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	why-not
释义	why-notn. Brit. /ˈwʌɪnɒt/, U.S. /ˈ(h)waɪˌnɑt/ Etymology: The phrase why not? (why adv., int., and n. Phrases 3a) used as a noun. 1. An argument of the form ‘Why not?’, which attempts to leave the opponent without a reply. ΘΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [noun] > arguments for or against > argument against > instance of con1590 man of straw1599 antistrophon1611 why-not1611 againsta1817 counter-argument1862 1611 W. Sclater Key 123 That is answere sufficient to all such plausible why-nots. 1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. ii. 105 Capoch'd your Rabbins of the Synod, And snap'd their Canons with a Why-not. 2. Backgammon (see quot. 1680); hence allusively, esp. to take (have, etc.) at a why-not: i.e. at an advantage or in a dilemma. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage to have at avail1470 to catch, have, hold, take (one) at (a or the) vantagec1510 to gain of1548 to be to the forehand with1558 to have (take) on (in, at) the lurch1591 to get the sun of1598 to have (also get) a good hand against1600 to take (have, etc.) at a why-nota1612 to weather on or upon1707 to have the laugh on a person1767 to have a (or the) pull of (also over, on)1781 to get to windward of1783 to have the bulge on1841 to give points to1854 to get (have) the drop on1869 to hold over1872 to have an (or the) edge on1896 to get (also have) the goods on1903 to get (or have) the jump on1912 to have (got) by the balls1918 the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > state of uncertainty, suspense > keep in suspense [verb (transitive)] > place in a dilemma to take (have, etc.) at a why-nota1612 dilemma1656 society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > backgammon > [noun] > actions or positions lympoldingc1350 blot1598 after-game1601 why-nota1612 non-pass1688 hit1766 a1612 J. Harington Brief View Church of Eng. in Nugæ Antiquæ (1804) II. 144 This game..by certaine bootie play betweene a Protector and a Bishop, (I suppose it was at Tick-take), was like to have been lost with a why not? 1680 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester (ed. 2) 113 This is the plain Game of Tick-Tack, which is called so from Touch, and take, for if you touch a man you must play him though to your loss; and if you hit your Adversary and neglect the advantage, you are taken with a Why-not, which is the loss of one. c1680 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1904) II. 335 You catch me with a why-not still: Indeed my memory growes bad.., and things go out as fast as they come into my head now. 1720 D. Manley Power of Love v. 285 He took me at a why not! naked, without Cloaths and Weapons. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison VI. xxv. 142 Now, Dame Selby, I have you at a why-not. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.1611
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