at the whim of (someone)
idiom
: when (someone) wishes, desires, or decides something often in a sudden way
The shop is only open at the whim of the owner.
Examples of at the whim of (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The very structure and pacing of the film reflects the rhythm of a real game—tense, strategic and methodical, but always at the whim of whatever fate has in store.
—
Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Tesla is also at the whim of current and future U.S. tariffs.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The bureau can unilaterally penalize those who violate consumer protection and fair lending laws, and all at the whim of the CFPB director, who has the final say over all agency regulations and enforcement actions.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 1 Feb. 2025
Call us old fashioned, but such an order should require an act of Congress, not just at the whim of whoever is in the White House.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the whim of (someone)
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Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Tesla is also at the whim of current and future U.S. tariffs.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The bureau can unilaterally penalize those who violate consumer protection and fair lending laws, and all at the whim of the CFPB director, who has the final say over all agency regulations and enforcement actions.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 1 Feb. 2025
Call us old fashioned, but such an order should require an act of Congress, not just at the whim of whoever is in the White House.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the whim of (someone)
Cite this Entry
“At the whim of (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20whim%20of%20%28someone%29. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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