when it's at home

Adverb

 * 1)  (of a person) In reality; in fact; when it comes down to it.
 * 2)  (of a topic) Plainly; in plain English; at its most basic level.
 * 1)  (of a topic) Plainly; in plain English; at its most basic level.

Usage notes
This phrase is an intensifier used to communicate the fact that one knows nothing about a particular person or subject, (Haemoglobin? What in blazes is that when it's at home?), effecting a self-conscious cutesy ignorance that sometimes also carries a humorous irony, depending on context. It often implies derision for the subject, or some erudite, esoteric, overly technical, or overly political word used in the company of the speaker.

Due to the already humorous nature of the phrase, the overall pattern may sometimes be seen with a different verb phrase. When this is used it's often a comic device to evoke humour through its sense of added absurdity.

Quotations
Other rare inflected forms:
 * 1964, "A Hard Day's Night" (movie), The Beatles, dir. Richard Lester
 * 'And who's this Susan when she's at home?' - George
 * 1966, Tom Stoppard, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" (play and film)
 * 'What's your name when you're at home?'
 * 'And who's this Susan when she's at home?' - George
 * 1966, Tom Stoppard, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" (play and film)
 * 'What's your name when you're at home?'

Translations

 * French: qu'est-ce que ça mange en hiver? (Quebec)