Standard Lemma guide

what's-their-face

pron · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

pron

Meaning 1

A person whose identity is unknown or forgotten (especially when better-known to the listener).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, singular

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: what's-their-name (what's-his-name, what's-her-name); whatchamacallhim, whatchamacallher; you-know-who; so-and-so; see also Thesaurus:what's-their-name

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: what's-their-name, whatchamacallhim, whatchamacallher, you-know-who, so-and-so

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Univerbation of what's + their + face (“self”, metonymic).