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
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Until the guy actually starts a fight or grabs someone by the you-know-what, his money’s good here, okay?
—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
30 June 2026
Maybe second on the IndyCar calendar only to you-know-what.
—
Kevin Sherrington,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Watch for the best costume change of the year, right in the middle of you-know-what song.
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Nov. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Just about everything that David Stearns has touched with the New York Mets has turned to you-know-what.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Until the guy actually starts a fight or grabs someone by the you-know-what, his money’s good here, okay?
—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
30 June 2026
Maybe second on the IndyCar calendar only to you-know-what.
—
Kevin Sherrington,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Watch for the best costume change of the year, right in the middle of you-know-what song.
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“You know what?.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/you%20know%20what%3F. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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