know what's what
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know what's what
To know the true facts or most fundamental information (about someone or something). Kid, I've been doing this job for longer than you've been alive, so trust me when I say that I know what's what around here.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
know what's what
If you know what's what, you know the important things that need to be known about a situation. You have to know what's what and when to draw the line. You should come across the river with us. Then you will really see what's what.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
know what's what
have enough knowledge or experience. informal 1992 More I know what's what at work, so no-one's going to trip me up.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
know what’s ˈwhat
(informal) know all that needs to be known in a particular situation or in general: Ask Ann. She knows what’s what. She’s been here for years.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
know what’s what
tv. to be aware of what is going on in the world. We don’t know what’s what around here yet.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
know what's what, to
To be cognizant of the full situation; to be familiar with all the facts. This term may have been coined by Samuel Butler (Hudibras, 1663): “He knew what’s what, and that’s as high as metaphysic wit can fly.” Dickens’s Sam Weller (Pickwick Papers) used it too: “‘That ’ere young lady’, replied Sam. ‘She knows wot’s wot, she does.’”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer