what you see is what you get
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Originally a humorous allusion to a catchphrase popularized by comedian Flip Wilson on US TV in the 1960s.
Proverb [edit]
- The image corresponds to the reality.
- 1970, Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar
- What you see is what you get. No one's been disappointed yet.
- 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page vii
- With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get […]
- 1970, Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar
- (idiomatic, computing) The screen image resembles the printed output.
- 1983, Byte, volume 8, page 86:
- For:Word, like Wang's editing system, is an early approach to a what-you-see-is-what-you-get word processor.
- 1983, Byte, volume 8, page 86:
Usage notes [edit]
- computing sense often used attributively.
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
(idiomatic, computing) the screen image resembles the printed output
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