A rhetorical question, generally in the form of an insulting chant, accompanied by finger-pointing; meant as
abuse to a single person or team performing in front of a crowd, by indicating that they are unknown and insignificant.
Abuse is aimed at
two groups:
1) An unknown competitor, whose relative anonymity is highlighted even further.
2) Paradoxically, a well-known competitor whose
high credibility and status is undermined in an
act of defiance by pretending to regard the competitor as unknown or insignificant.
Abuse is aimed in
two ways:
1) When the competitor is announced.
2) When the competitor is performing badly.
The phrase is often used in
sport, particularly at football matches in the UK.
"Who are you?" is usually pronounced "Who are ya?!", with emphasis on the word "are".
1) Liverpool (big football
club) v Grimsby (small football
club):
Announcer : "On to the pitch comes...Grimsby"
Liverpool fans : "Who are ya?! Who are ya?! Who are ya?!..."
2) Leyton Orient (small football
club) v Chelsea (big football
club)
The Chelsea player, Didier Drogba, misses a clear chance of scoring a goal and falls over badly, clutching his knee in agony.
Leyton Orient fans : "Who are ya?! Who are ya?! Who are ya?!..."