whatnot
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A miscellaneous collection of small objects or curiosities: This is the primary meaning, referring to an assortment of various small, often decorative items, whose specific names might be unimportant or too numerous to list. 2. A stand with shelves for displaying such items: Historically, the word also refers to a piece of furniture, like an étagère, designed to hold and display these collections.
Usage Examples
Noun (Collection):
- Her desk was covered with photos, trinkets, and whatnot.
- We bought some tools, nails, screws, and whatnot for the project.
- The antique shop was full of interesting whatnot.
Noun (Furniture):
- The Victorian whatnot in the corner displayed her collection of porcelain figurines.
- He placed the vase on the top shelf of the whatnot.
Advanced Usage
- As a placeholder in lists: Used informally at the end of a list to suggest other similar, unspecified items.
- I need to pick up groceries—milk, bread, eggs, whatnot.
- The meeting will cover budgets, timelines, deliverables, and whatnot.
Variants and Related Words
- Whatnots (plural noun): The plural form, often used to emphasize a collection of miscellaneous items.
- The shelf was cluttered with little whatnots from her travels.
- What-have-you (noun phrase): A near-identical synonym used as a placeholder.
- The box contained old letters, postcards, and what-have-you.
Synonyms
- Sundries: Miscellaneous small items.
- Bric-a-brac: Small decorative objects of little value.
- Knick-knacks: Small decorative objects.
- Et cetera (etc.): And other similar things (used in writing).
- And so on: And other things of that kind.
Idioms and Phrases
- And whatnot: This is the most common idiomatic usage, functioning as a phrase to mean "and other things of a similar kind" or "and so forth."
- They were talking about politics, the economy, and whatnot.
- She's into hiking, camping, and whatnot.
Noun
- miscellaneous curios