Definition
The identities of specific people, understood in terms of such distinguishing characteristics as their backgrounds, prominence, achievements, jobs, etc., as a basis for comparing them and especially as a basis for ranking them within a social group.
Origins
From Who's Who, the British publication of biographies for the upper class, first published in 1849.
In Context
- "Mrs. Falconer cannot well avoid asking you to some of her entertainments, and it will be pleasant to you to know who's who beforehand."
- ""Milly, it's true," she said, to be exact, "has no natural sense of social values, doesn't in the least understand our differences or know who's who or what's what.""
- ""I'll learn 'im to insult a respectable British tradesman. I'll show him who's who.""
- "Readers will conjure up many a conjecture over who's who in this literary gallery."