who's who
The phrase "who's who" can refer to a publication listing notable people or an expression denoting familiarity with important individuals in a group.
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Definition
C1Publishing
(reference, formal)A book or list containing names and brief biographies of prominent people in a specific field or area.
Example
- The university library has a comprehensive collection of 'who's who' publications across various disciplines.
B2General
(idiomatic, informal)A term used to describe the most important or influential people in a particular group or area.
Example
- The gala was attended by the who's who of the fashion industry.
B2Social
(idiomatic, informal)Knowing the identities and significance of key individuals in a specific context.
Example
- If you want to succeed in this business, you need to know who's who.