title: Short hand to do something like: if($variable == 1 || $variable == "whatever" || $variable == '492') .
body: <p>I find my self doing this type of <code>IF</code> statement allot.  For example: </p>
  
  <pre><code>if($variable == 1 || $variable == "whatever" || $variable == '492') { ... }  
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Except for allot of the time, I am comparing the $variable to maybe 4-5 things, sometimes more.  Is there a short hand way to write this?  You can see that repeating <code>$variable ==</code> would get redundant.</p>
  
  <p>I would love for this to work, but it doesn't:</p>
  
  <pre><code>if($variable == (1 || "whatever" || 492) { ... }
  </code></pre>