Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (237 page)

Who do you think you're kidding? 1
.
You aren't fooling anyone.; Surely, you do not think you can fool me, do you?
B
ILL
: I must pull down about eighty thou a year. B
OB
: You? Who do you think you're kidding?
M
ARY
: This carpet was made in Persia by children. T
OM
: Who do you think you're kidding?

Who do you think you're talking to?
Why do you think you can address me in that manner?; You can't talk to me that way!
T
OM
: Get out of the way! S
UE
: Who do you think you're talking to? T
OM
: Then move please
.
C
LERK
: Look, take it or leave it. Isn't it good enough for you? S
UE
: Who do you think you're talking to? I want to see the manager!

Who do you want to speak to?
Go to Who do you want (to talk to)?

Who do you want (to talk to)?
AND
Who do you want to speak to?; Who do you wish to speak to?; Who do you wish to talk to?
Who do you want to speak to over the telephone? (All these questions can also begin with
whom
. Compare to With whom do you wish to speak?)
S
UE
: Wilson residence. Who do you want to speak to? B
ILL
: Hi, Sue. I want to talk to you
.
T
OM
(answering the phone): Hello? S
UE
: Hello, who is this? T
OM
: Who do you wish to speak to? S
UE
: Is Sally there? T
OM
: Just a minute.

Who do you wish to speak to?
Go to Who do you want (to talk to)?

Who do you wish to talk to?
Go to Who do you want (to talk to)?

Who is it?
Go to Who's there?

Who is this?
Who is making this telephone call?; Who is on the other end of this telephone line?
T
OM
(answering the phone): Hello? F
RED
: Hello. Do you have any fresh turkeys? T
OM
: Who is this? F
RED
: Isn't this the Harrison Poultry Shop? T
OM
: No. F
RED
: I guess I have the wrong number
.
M
ARY
(answering the phone): Hello? S
UE
: Hello, who is this? M
ARY
: Well, who did you want? S
UE
: I want Grandma. M
ARY
: I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number.

Who knows?
I don't know who knows the answer to that question.
T
OM
: When will this train get in? R
ACHEL
: Who knows?
A
NDREW
: Why can't someone put this stuff away? R
ACHEL
: Who knows? Why don't you put it away?

Who was it?
Who called on the telephone or who was at the door? (Assumes that the caller or visitor is not waiting on the telephone or at the door.)
S
UE
(as Mary hangs up the telephone): Who was it? M
ARY
: None of your business
.
B
ILL
(as he leaves the door): What a pest! S
UE
: Who was it? B
ILL
: Some silly survey.