English

English phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on usefulness, simplicity and commonness.

Alternative forms

• wassup, what up, waz up, wazzup, whassup, wuzzup, wussup, sup, wa'up, swa'up, 'sup

Phrase

what's up?

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) What are you doing?; what is happening?
2. (informal) How are you?; how are you feeling?
3. (idiomatic, colloquial) What’s the matter?
   • 1884, Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn:

     Hello, what's up? Don't cry bub. What's the trouble?

   • 1912, W. Somerset Maugham, Lady Frederick: A Comedy in Three Acts, Act 1:

     Lady Frederick: Oh lord, I wish I were eighteen. [She sinks into a chair, and an expression of utter weariness comes over her face.]

     Gerald: I say, what's up?

     Lady Frederick: [Starting.] I thought you'd gone. Nothing.

4. (rhetorical question, colloquial) A casual greeting with a meaning similar to how are you? or nice to meet you.

Usage notes

• Made popular by the cartoon character Bugs Bunny as part of his catch phrase “What’s up Doc?”, as early as 1940.^[1]

Synonyms

• (how are you?): what’s happening?, what’s new?, what's the haps?

Translations

See also

• what's up with

References

1. ↑ What's up Doc by Gary Martin, phrases.org.uk.