Definition: What are the odds? (Merriam-Webster Online)
Sample usage: “Two meteors are heading for Earth at the same time, each capable of extinguishing all life? Wato!”
Popularity: If your life is so full of coincidences that you need to excise two syllables to express your amazement, perhaps wato works. But you’re likely to get “What?” when you say it, and when you try to explain by using the entire phrase, the person will say “What?” again. Before you know it, you’re trapped in a bad “Who’s on first” routine. Or, as we call it, wof.
JAMES LILEKS
Heard a new word or phrase you want us to dissect? Let us know at word@startribune.com. See previous entries at startribune.com/word.
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