Sayings

What you see is what you get

This page is about the saying "What you see is what you get"

American English

Possible meaning:
1) There is nothing hidden. What you are looking at is the real thing. 2) In computing, the way something displays on the screen is the way it will display in print (or other media) -- hence the acronym WYSIWYG.

Origin: Although the acronym WYSIWYG originated with computing, the actual saying "What you see is what you get" predates computing, being used for example by salesmen to assure customers of the quality of their product.

Variety

This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

The saying "What you see is what you get" is usually intended to

a. reassure you

b. create doubt

c. confuse you
a) reassure you b) create doubt c) confuse you

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger