the whys and wherefores

the whys and wherefores

The various underlying factors that cause or contribute (to something). I don't need the whys and wherefores of the delay, I just want to know when the project will be done. The tour guide was very interesting, really digging into the whys and wherefores of the city's troubled past.
See also: and, wherefore, why
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

whys and wherefores

All the underlying causes and reasons, as in She went into the whys and wherefores of the adoption agency's rules and procedures. This idiom today is a redundancy since why and wherefore mean the same thing. Formerly, however, why indicated the reason for something and wherefore how it came to be. [c. 1600]
See also: and, wherefore, why
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the whys and wherefores

The whys and wherefores of something are the reasons for it. Even successful bosses need to be queried about the whys and wherefores of their actions. He is not interested in discussing the whys and wherefores of his time abroad. Note: `Wherefore' is an old-fashioned word meaning `for what' or `why'.
See also: and, wherefore, why
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the whys and wherefores

the reasons for or details of something.
1991 Gramophone At this time I was desperate to know all the whys and wherefores of a really advanced technique.
See also: and, wherefore, why
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌwhys and (the) ˈwherefores (of something)

the reasons (for something): I don’t really want to know all the whys and the wherefores. Just tell me what happened.
See also: and, wherefore, why
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

whys and wherefores, the

The underlying reasons. Although this alliterative term seems tautological, originally why alluded to the reason for something, and wherefore to how it came to be. However, wherefore also was, in the sixteenth century, used in the meaning of “because.” Thus George Gascoigne (Supposes, 1566) wrote, “I have given you a wherefore for this why many times,” and Samuel Butler (Hudibras, 1663), “Whatever Sceptic could inquire for, For ev’ry why he had a wherefore.” Today, however, the term is simply a cliché for all the reasons for something.
See also: and, why
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • wherefore
  • whys and wherefores
  • whys and wherefores, the
  • whys and wherefores of
  • do (one's) share
  • give a little
  • root of the problem
  • the root of the issue
  • the root of the problem
  • do (one's) part
References in classic literature
Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.
Anne Of Green Gables
I can no more tell you the whys and wherefores of myself than I can lift myself up by the waistband and carry myself into the next county, as some one challenged a speculator in perpetual motion to do.
Unsocial Socialist
The romance drama delves into the whys and wherefores of a May-December love affair.
Marco on 'ghosting': Guys must have the balls to formalize a breakup
Young was not keen to get into the whys and wherefores but has seen enough of Shaw to back him to reach the very top of the game.
'Shaw can be one of the best if he works hard'
Whilst many members were familiar with such techniques, even they and the novices amongst his audience were admirably enlightened as to the whys and wherefores when using today's technology, with Malcolm projecting 'before and after'examples of his work.
Welcome return
I won't bore you with the whys and wherefores. We simply were always the underdogs despite giving it our all.
STILL SMILING
Finally, for a bit of fun, while were all arguing about the whys and wherefores of 'Geordie', here are 10 words commonly used in our region at one time or another.
What is a Geordie? And where did term originate?
I won't go into the whys and wherefores of the series of meetings that were held, that would be inappropriate, but what I will say is how proud I was to show off my home city to people, many of whom had never been in Liverpool before.
Superstars and smiles - but our city is the real sporting hero; sport@liverpool.com Opinions and insight from our man in the know Life of Brian Barwick's
Having to explain the whys and wherefores of terrible things to an inquisitive, knowledge-hungry and probably scared and worried little person is not something that's ever got me thinking before.
We cannot shield our children from the realities of the news
Whatever the whys and wherefores, the Rhinos are in serious trouble and for the first time in three years, bookmakers rate them underdogs for a home game.
Reeling Rhinos look underrated; RUGBY LEAGUE
The general principle would be that signatures were collected from the public on issues that concern them, which could then be used to press state institutions on the whys and wherefores.
Government announces system for e-petitions
What I Can Do for Our Members: I want to be your eyes and ears in Washington on all things legislative and regulatory; to help you better understand the whys and wherefores of Congress and the Administration; to let Congress and the Administration know how you are transforming the nation's human service system; and to provide you with the tools to be successful human service advocates.
Staff spotlight
Apparently the study will look at the whys and wherefores of tunneling under the Woodhead Pass between Sheffield and Manchester - just over the top of Holme Moss.
Tunnel vision for bargain at half-price
The whys and wherefores of the politiciansAE desire to censor the press are borne from the fact that, in the age before the technological revolution, power over the press meant the ability to control virtually the only means by which information could be disseminated en masse.
Mr. Parnell's Rottweiler: Censorship and the United Ireland Newspaper, 1881-1891
"As they say in this game, the table doesn't lie but it's only December and we shall judge the whys and wherefores come May.
DON'T WRITE OFF BORO YET; Defiant boss Wilkin insists survival scrap is far from over