you know what?
1 of 2phrase
informal
1
—used to emphasize the statement that comes after it
You know what? I never trusted her.
She lied to me again, but you know what? I really just don't care anymore.
2
—used to get someone's attention
Hey, you know what? I'm hungry.
informal
1
—used in speech to refer to something that is not named but is known to both the hearer and speaker
I've hidden the you-know-what in the closet.
2
—used in place of a rude or offensive word in order to express anger or annoyance
He's a complete you-know-what.
Examples of you know what? in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Maybe second on the IndyCar calendar only to you-know-what.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Sight and sound are all extra-ribbed for your you-know-what, but the movie is sensual in a way that aims to engage not just eyes and ears, but all of the senses at once.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
That’s unacceptable — the you-know-what will hit the fan on that.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Not a you-know-what little bob or even a pixie… down to a velvety stubble.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 9 Sep. 2025
That is an axis of you-know-what, and should concentrate the mind.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
In my last jobs, everyone was swinging their you-know-what on these types of meetings and everyone wanted to talk and talk and talk and things always went over.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The show that opened Wednesday night at the Majestic Theatre features music (aside from you-know-what song) by the 93-year-old Mike Stoller, one-half of the famed songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Maybe second on the IndyCar calendar only to you-know-what.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Sight and sound are all extra-ribbed for your you-know-what, but the movie is sensual in a way that aims to engage not just eyes and ears, but all of the senses at once.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
That’s unacceptable — the you-know-what will hit the fan on that.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Not a you-know-what little bob or even a pixie… down to a velvety stubble.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 9 Sep. 2025
That is an axis of you-know-what, and should concentrate the mind.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
In my last jobs, everyone was swinging their you-know-what on these types of meetings and everyone wanted to talk and talk and talk and things always went over.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“You know what?.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/you%20know%20what%3F. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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