what's up
phraseEtymology Popularized by the cartoon character Bugs Bunny as part of his catchphrase “Eh... What’s up, doc?”, as early as 1940. Originally a common greeting from Bugs Bunny creator Tex Avery's neighborhood in Taylor, Texas.
1
Colloquial, Idiomatic, With up What’s the matter? What is the problem? What is wrong?
In the sense of "of concern"
- You're looking a bit miserable. What's up?
- I got a call saying to come straight away. What's up?
3 more examples
- Hello, what's up? Don't cry, bub. What's the trouble?1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XIII, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 112:
- "What's up?" he asked, dropping back into a chair, and jingling the loose coins in his trouser pockets. / "I have had news of the Black Eagle," his father answered. "She is reported from Madeira."1890, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Mr. John Harston Keeps an Appointment”, in The Firm of Girdlestone: A Romance of the Unromantic, London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 5:
- 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.1912, W. Somerset Maugham, Lady Frederick: A Comedy in Three Acts, act 1:
2
US, Colloquial, Idiomatic, With up, In the sense of "happening" What's happening? What are you doing?
- Hey, what's up? – Not much, just working.
3
Colloquial, Rhetoric A casual greeting with a meaning similar to hi or nice to meet you.
- Hey, what's up? – Hey! Good to see you.
- Derived terms
- what's up Doc
- Related terms
- what's up with