wherewhere /weə $ wer/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb, conjunction, pronoun 
Where are you going? Where do they live? Do you know where my glasses are? Where would you like to sit?where (...) to/from Where have you come from? ‘We’re going on a long journey.’ ‘Where to?’where to do something They’re easy to find, if you know where to look.where on earth/in the world etc (=used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) Where on earth have you been all this time?2used to talk about a particular place: She was standing exactly where you are standing now. Stay where you are. This is the place where I hid the key. In 1963 we moved to Boston, where my grandparents lived.3used to talk about a particular stage in a process, conversation, story etc: The treatment will continue until the patient reaches the point where he can walk correctly and safely. You are saying that everyone should be equal, and this is where I disagree. Now, where were we? Oh yes, we were talking about John.4used to ask or talk about the origin of something or someone: Where does the word ‘super’ come from? Where does this man get the money to keep two houses? I wonder where he gets these strange ideas.5used to say that one person, thing, opinion etc is different from another: Where others might have been satisfied, Dawson had higher ambitions.6in or to any place SYN wherever: You can sit where you like. You’re free to go where you please.
WORD ORIGINwhere
Origin:
Old English hwærLongman Language Activatorwhat you say when someone or something is late
spoken say this when someone arrives very late and you want to know why, because you are worried or annoyed: · Where have you been? You said you'd be here at three!
spoken say this when someone arrives late and you are a little annoyed: · "What kept you?" "I couldn't find my glasses."
British /it's about time American spoken say this when someone or something arrives or does something late, and you are annoyed because you have been waiting a long time: · "Look, here's the bus." "It's about time!"
British spoken say this when you are annoyed with someone because they have arrived very late: · What time do you call this, Martin? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago.
spoken say this when someone or something arrives or does something late but it does not matter very much: · "The pictures have finally arrived." "Well, better late than never."
British say this when you suddenly realize that it is later than you thought it was: · Oh my god, is that the time? I've got to go!
the official opinion of a person or group what a government, political party, or a person has decided to be their official or public opinion: · It's important that the Socialists clarify their position before the conference.position on: · We have made our position on disarmament perfectly clear.take a position: · She takes the position that all asylum seekers should be made welcome.
the publicly stated opinion of a political party, government etc, which all their members are supposed to agree with: party/government/official etc line: · The whip's job is to persuade members of his party to support the party line on issues that come before Congress.line on: · What's his line on abortion?take a line on something: · There was pressure for the President to take a tough line on welfare issues.
the publicly stated opinion of a person, group, newspaper etc towards something, especially a political matter: · The political stance of the paper means it is unlikely to report the affair in a balanced way.· The official stance is that the lottery money should be used for the arts and education.stance on: · His tough stance on crime appeals to voters.take a stance on something: · The council has taken a pro-growth, pro-business stance on development issues.
the publicly stated opinion of a person or group, especially when previously this may not have been clear: · Voters need to know where each candidate stands.where sb stands on: · Where do the Democrats stand on the issue of sanctions?
ways of talking about where someone or something is, where they are from etc · Where are you?· This is where we keep all our junk.· I can't remember where I last saw it.· Could you tell me where the nearest tourist information office is?· Where are you going?· Where did you buy those shoes?where ... to · Neighbours have no idea where the couple have moved to.where to? spoken (=used to ask someone where they are going) · "Would you like to come with us tonight?" "Where to?"where ... from · Where did you get that magazine from?where somebody comes from · In all that time Naomi never told me where she came from.
especially spoken use this when you are asking in what general area something is: · Did he say whereabouts he hid it?· "I'm from Thailand." "Whereabouts?"· Whereabouts in Scotland is Perthshire?
where - use this especially to show surprise or disapproval: · Where on earth are you going dressed like that?· We've been looking for you for hours. Where in the world have you been?· When he woke up, he could not remember where on earth he was.
to stop talking about the subject you are supposed to be talking about also go off the subject British · I think we're getting off the subject. Could we get back to the main point, please?· Well, going off the subject a minute, what about that Uri Geller chap?
formal to move away from the main subject that you have been talking or writing about, especially for a short time during a speech or story: · Before we do that, I'd like to digress for a minute and say a word or two about the new books.
if you are talking about something and are sidetracked or get sidetracked , you allow yourself to start talking or thinking about something else, especially something less important: · I was going to ask him, but he got sidetracked by this guy and I never got a chance.· Don't be sidetracked by the way the interviewer asks the questions - just keep making the relevant points.
if you stray from the subject you are talking about, you start talking about other things instead, for example, because you cannot keep your attention on the main subject: · Promise yourself that you'll try not to stray from the issue at hand.· Well, we've strayed quite a way from space exploration.
to talk, especially for a long time, moving from one subject to another without any clear order, so that your listener becomes bored or confused: · In his diary, the Unabomber rambled at length about the evils of technology.ramble on (=ramble continuously and in an annoying way): · I sat down and let him ramble on for a few minutes.
also lose the thread to become confused about or forget the connection between the things you are saying, especially so that you have to stop talking and think about what you want to say next: · The audience's reaction surprised him, and he lost his train of thought for a moment.· I'm sorry, I seem to have lost my thread.lose the thread of something: · Arthur paused, feeling he was beginning to lose the thread of his argument.
spoken say this when you want to continue what you were saying before you were interrupted, but you cannot remember what you were saying: · Thanks for that, Gillian. Now, where was I?· So, where was I? Oh yes, the accession of Henry the Fifth.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Ms/Miss/Mrs/Mr Please delete as applicable. Where the heck are we? We’ll meet again in the morning and we can pick up where we left off.
(=used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) Where on earth have you been all this time?
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Where on earth have you been all this time? Ms/Miss/Mrs/Mr Please delete as applicable. spoken (=used when you think that something seems reasonable, although other people may not)· Sure, he gets attention when he performs at a charity event, but where’s the harm in that?
Where the heck are we? (=continue something that has stopped for a short time) Barry took up the story where Justine had left off.
Barry took up the story where Justine had left off. (=who or what you are going to be loyal to)· Do your loyalties lie with your friends or your family?
British English (=used for telling a child to stop behaving impolitely)· Jamie! Where are your manners?
We’ll meet again in the morning and we can pick up where we left off.· There comes a point where you have to accept defeat.
· Choose wholemeal varieties of flour and pasta, where possible.
(=used to ask what is happening in a situation) Where do things stand in terms of the budget?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE Where do things stand in terms of the budget?· Colleges submitting such proposals may, where appropriate, be invited to participate in the central development.· The law does not require all passengers to be restrained, only those where appropriate restraints are available.· Nineteenth- and twentieth-century examples may also be included where appropriate.· Invalidity benefit is paid according to the usual contribution conditions and dependants' benefits are added where appropriate.· Agents and exporters should therefore treat them as within the existing system, and include T2 documents where appropriate.· Wherever they are kept, they should be out of reach of children and, where appropriate, under lock and key.· To phase out zoos and, where appropriate, support conservation centres. 3.· To assist and encourage and supervise where appropriate junior staff in the proper performance of their duties.
· This chapter overlaps the last and should, where necessary, be read in conjunction with it.· Patients are referred to the Medical Officer and to local hospitals where necessary.· They book orders, develop new business and sort out problems where necessary, earning commission from Courtaulds' supplying companies.· The Conservative leadership should show itself as compassionate and imaginative as well as tough where necessary.· A professional hypnotherapist should assess each potential patient carefully and advise against treatment where necessary.· Then redecorate where necessary, paying particular attention to the kitchen, bathroom and external window sills.· The method of assessment will rest on observing the trainee's performance at work with questions supplementing underpinning knowledge where necessary.
VERB· I knew where to look too.· Most public managers know where they could trim 10 to 15 percent of their budget.· I know where to get some sweet mickeys off the truck.· Judas knew where he would be.· They know where they fit in and what they have to do.· Now she would know where Benny went and studied; she would know the look of the place.· Anybody know where Earl Varney is these days?
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► (give) credit where credit is due► what/who/where the dickens ...?► fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)► look what you’re doing/look where you’re going etc► tell somebody where to go/where to get off► where there’s a will there’s a way
1in or to which place: - Forget the business struggle: the busyness battle is where it's at.
- This is where it's at.
- "Where's the beef?" reporters asked Democratic leaders at a news conference.
- After nine years of marriage to her I did not have a clue myself.
- Growing churches should seek to identify where their growth is coming from.
- I try to feel where he is coming from.
- It's great for keeping tabs on where your money is coming from and going to and for tracking investments.
- The ability to see where something is coming from and where it's going to.
- Once you open the door to things that are not related to the Holocaust, where do you draw the line?
- That obviously does not extend to the levels of awareness which human consciousness exhibits, but where do you draw the line?
- Where do you draw the line?
- "Did you give him the money?" "No, I told him where to get off."
- He has just turned 25 years old and the question is: Where does he go from here?
- So where does Dirk go from here?
- The question now is, where does UMass go from here?
- What in God's name is that noise?
- But take care of them, darling. I hate to think what we'd do if they had to be replaced.
- She admits there are no jobs and wonders what the hell she is doing.
- What the hell does the reaction matter if you want to do it?
- What the hell was he talking about?
- What the hell was she playing at?
- Where the hell have you been?
- Why the hell couldn't you have told us?
- Wondering what the hell he's up to.
- Instead of locking up drug offenders, hit them where it really hurts - in the wallet.
- Tax day hits him hard, hits him where it hurts the most.
- It's time for the governor to put his money where his mouth is.
- But it is not quite what it seems.
- Only his shoes seemed to be a little too pointed - not quite what men one knew would wear.
- So Feuerbach's sensuous anthropology, much praised even by Karl Barth, is not quite what it seems.
- Somehow we get the feeling this is not quite what Tucson Mayor George Miller had in mind.
- That is not quite what we suggested, which was that it should have regard to affordability.
- The whole situation was very unusual and not quite what I expected it to be.
- They are not quite what I should have expected from a man like Serafin.
- This is not quite what was expected.
- Voters need to know where each candidate stands.
- Where do the Democrats stand on the issue of sanctions?
- Well from where I stand, it looks like you've found a good job.
- But from where I stand, it is the wider issue of transparency that really counts.
- Even from where I stood, I glimpsed Eadred's agitation.
- He ambled over to the nearest tree - happily some metres from where I stood hidden, and turned towards the tower.
- I can shake things up a little from where I stand.
- I could smell its peppery, pungent scent from where I stood.
- But Catholic bishops have let both parties know where they stand.
- Do you know where you stand?
- I am only ensuring we both know where we stand.
- Imagine a man in public office that everybody knew where he stood.
- My father died, I didn't know where I stood on the team, we lost a lot of games.
- She knew where he stood over Grunte.
- Well, now she knew where she stood.
- You knew where you stood with the Cold War.
- If we lose tomorrow, we'll be back where we started.
- And if you decide that they are not, then you are back where you started.
- So my client and I are back where we started.
- To a large extent we are back where we started.
Where are you going? Where do they live? Do you know where my glasses are? Where would you like to sit?where (...) to/from Where have you come from? ‘We’re going on a long journey.’ ‘Where to?’where to do something They’re easy to find, if you know where to look.where on earth/in the world etc (=used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) Where on earth have you been all this time?2used to talk about a particular place: She was standing exactly where you are standing now. Stay where you are. This is the place where I hid the key. In 1963 we moved to Boston, where my grandparents lived.3used to talk about a particular stage in a process, conversation, story etc: The treatment will continue until the patient reaches the point where he can walk correctly and safely. You are saying that everyone should be equal, and this is where I disagree. Now, where were we? Oh yes, we were talking about John.4used to ask or talk about the origin of something or someone: Where does the word ‘super’ come from? Where does this man get the money to keep two houses? I wonder where he gets these strange ideas.5used to say that one person, thing, opinion etc is different from another: Where others might have been satisfied, Dawson had higher ambitions.6in or to any place SYN wherever: You can sit where you like. You’re free to go where you please.