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Today, let’s look at a really useful conversational phrase – “What’s up with…?”
We use what’s up with…? to ask about something we don’t understand. It’s another way to say “What’s going on with…?” or “What’s the situation with…?” And you can use it for people, for events, or even for weird situations.
Like, Maybe your coworker is acting strange. You can say: “What’s up with John today?”
Or if you’re confused about a rule at work, you might say: “What’s up with casual Fridays? Can we wear jeans or not?”
We also use it to talk about trends or new behaviors we don’t get. Like: “I don’t know what’s up with kids these days and that 6-7 thing.”
One thing to keep in mind is tone. With a neutral tone, it sounds curious. With a strong tone, it can sound annoyed or frustrated: “Oh man, what’s up with all this traffic today?”
So remember, what’s up with…? is a really natural way to ask about confusing people or confusing situations in everyday English.
What’s up with waiting? Go try this phrase in your next conversation!
Lemme know in the comments how it goes, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next Saturday’s English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening – and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.
FAQ
Question: What does “What’s up with that?” mean?
Answer: We use “what’s up with…?” to ask about something we don’t understand.
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