'who wants to know?'when should I use it?

Question

In many movies,like&lt;chichen run&gt;,or in &lt;Growing Pains&gt;mike says: 'who wants to know?'to the'NEW YORK NEWS LINE',So,when should I use it?------who wants to know??

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Literally, you're asking for the name of the person who wants to know the information he or she is asking for. But there's more to it than that.

Suppose you get a phone call from someone you don't know.
-- What is your address?
-- Who wants to know? = Who are you? Who is this? What company do you represent? (What right do you have to ask this question? You are rude to ask this question.)
The implication is that the person who asked the question is rude and has no right to ask the question.
The answer Who wants to know? will probably be interpreted as a rude reply intended to insult the questioner to pay him back for asking the rude question. It shows some readiness to engage in an argument.

In short Who wants to know? can be used innocently in its literal meaning sometimes, but it is often meant to be a rude reply to a rude question.

I don't recommend using this expression at all.

CJ

Rzy649 · Answer

Thank you very much!!

now I know what this is mean.

'who wants to know?'when should I use it?

who wants to know??

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