What's keeping?

What's keeping someone?

What is delaying someone? (The someone is replaced by a person's name or a pronoun.) Bob: Wasn't Mary supposed to be here? Bill: I thought so. Bob: Well, what's keeping her? Bill: How should I know? Bill: I've been waiting here for an hour for Sally. Sue: What's keeping her?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • can't fight City Hall, one/you/they
  • We were just talking about you
  • on (one's) bill
  • fill the bill
  • fill the bill, to
  • pick up the bill
  • greenback
  • foot the bill
  • meet one's Waterloo, to
  • fit the bill