who's who
1. The specific, individual people in a pair or group. I have a large number of people working for me, but I still try my best to remember who's who. Because of their uniforms and helmets, I can never tell who's who when I'm watching our kids play football.
2. A gathering of the most famous, important, or influential individuals in a larger group, field, or profession. The gala event is shaping up to be a who's who of the film industry. The expedition—the single most expensive ever commissioned—will feature a who's who of renowned scientists and researchers.
whose foot the shoe is on
Whose opinion, perspective, or interest is being considered or described. Usually used after "depends on." The legitimacy of these claims depends entirely on whose foot the shoe is on. I know you think it doesn't matter whose foot the shoe is on, but everything about this case changes if we look at it from a different point of view. The laws are impartial, and they should be applied the same to everyone, irrespective of whose foot the shoe is on.
Whose side is (one) on?
Who is one supporting in a particular disagreement, debate, fight, etc.? A: "I don't know, I kind of like your brother's design more. I think it explains the product better." B: "Mom, whose side are you on? Don't you want me to win the bet?" I can't believe she believes that scheming toad over me. Whose side is she on, anyway?
You and whose army?
childish A vague response to a threat, implying that an adversary is not powerful enough to carry out the threat alone (hence the need for an "army"). A: "If you don't leave, I'll make you get off this playground!" B: "Oh yeah? You and whose army?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
who's who
The outstanding or best-known individuals of a group, as in Tonight's concert features a veritable who's who of musicians. This expression comes from the name of a famous reference work, Who's Who, first published in 1849, which contains biographical sketches of famous individuals and is regularly updated. Its name in turn was based on who is who, that is, the identity of each of a number of persons, a phrase dating from the late 1300s. [Early 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.