what's the time, Mr Wolf

noun

A children's game in which one player takes the role of the wolf and the others repeatedly ask what the time is, taking steps forward accordingly (so "three o'clock" means three steps forward); finally the wolf calls "dinner time!" and chases the other players, a player becoming the wolf for the next round if caught. Alternatively, the last player to be caught becomes the wolf.

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Meanings

nounwhat's the time, Mr Wolf (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA children's game in which one player takes the role of the wolf and the others repeatedly ask what the time is, taking steps forward accordingly (so "three o'clock" means three steps forward); finally the wolf calls "dinner time!" and chases the other players, a player becoming the wolf for the next round if caught. Alternatively, the last player to be caught becomes the wolf.
Cite this entry
APA

what's the time, Mr Wolf. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's%20the%20time%2C%20Mr%20Wolf

MLA

“what's the time, Mr Wolf.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's%20the%20time%2C%20Mr%20Wolf. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “what's the time, Mr Wolf,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's%20the%20time%2C%20Mr%20Wolf.

Source: what's the time, Mr Wolf on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.