What's the matter?

What's the matter (with someone or something)?

1. What is going on (with someone or something)? What is wrong or the problem (with someone or something)? Hey, what's the matter? You look distressed. What's the matter with this computer? It keeps turning off all on its own. What's the matter with Sarah? She's been in a foul mood all day.

2. Used rhetorically to indicate that someone else is corrupt, immoral, deranged, etc. What on earth is the matter with these people that they could commit such awful crimes? So you just took the money for yourself, even though you knew it would destroy other people's lives? What's the matter with you?

What's the matter?

and What's the matter with you?

1. Lit. Is there something wrong with you?; Are you ill? Bill: What's the matter with you? Fred: I have this funny feeling in my chest. Bill: Sounds serious. Bob: I have to stay home again today. Bill: What's the matter with you? Have you seen a doctor? Mary: Oh, I'm so miserable! Sue: What's the matter? Mary: I lost my contact lenses and my glasses. John: Ouch! Alice: What's the matter? John: I bit my tongue.

2. Inf. How very stupid of you! How can you be so stupid? (Usually said in anger.) As Fred stumbled over the step and dumped the birthday cake on the floor, Jane screamed, "What's the matter with you? The party is in fifteen minutes and now we have no cake!" Mary: I think I just lost the Wilson account. Sue: What! What's the matter with you? That account pays your salary!

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

See also:

what's the matter
What's the matter (with someone or something)?
be the matter
be the matter (with someone or something)
record
any way
no matter what
the matter at hand
course
be a matter of (doing something)

References in periodicals archive

3 CARING husband award to Emmerdale's Grayson for this exchange with wife Perdy: Grayson: "What's the matter?" Perdy: "I've had a hysterectomy for God's sake!" Grayson: "Oh yeah, right."

GIMME FIVE; ...TV moments of the week..

WHAT'S THE MATTER? Henning Heiselberg of the Danish Defense Research Establishment in Copenhagen is a theoretical nuclear physicist who specializes in neutron stars.

Extreme impersonations: frigid atomic clouds mimic neutron stars, exotic superconductors, and the newborn universe

"What's the matter?" asked personnel manager Barry Depot.

Smallest need gets attention. (Wal*Mart)

Are we to find these people and ask them what's the matter?

Tragedy shocked all of us

The shift supervisor takes him aside and asks, "What's the matter? Is something going on in your personal life?"

QPR: police suicide prevention

Why on earth can't you occupy yourself with something?' 'What's the matter?' 'The matter?

MORNINGSERIAL

A man stopped and asked: "What's the matter? Did you fall over?" And I said: "No.

A Chic off the old block

词组	What's the matter?
释义	What's the matter? What's the matter (with someone or something)? 1. What is going on (with someone or something)? What is wrong or the problem (with someone or something)? Hey, what's the matter? You look distressed. What's the matter with this computer? It keeps turning off all on its own. What's the matter with Sarah? She's been in a foul mood all day. 2. Used rhetorically to indicate that someone else is corrupt, immoral, deranged, etc. What on earth is the matter with these people that they could commit such awful crimes? So you just took the money for yourself, even though you knew it would destroy other people's lives? What's the matter with you? See also: matter, someone Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. What's the matter? and What's the matter with you? 1. Lit. Is there something wrong with you?; Are you ill? Bill: What's the matter with you? Fred: I have this funny feeling in my chest. Bill: Sounds serious. Bob: I have to stay home again today. Bill: What's the matter with you? Have you seen a doctor? Mary: Oh, I'm so miserable! Sue: What's the matter? Mary: I lost my contact lenses and my glasses. John: Ouch! Alice: What's the matter? John: I bit my tongue. 2. Inf. How very stupid of you! How can you be so stupid? (Usually said in anger.) As Fred stumbled over the step and dumped the birthday cake on the floor, Jane screamed, "What's the matter with you? The party is in fifteen minutes and now we have no cake!" Mary: I think I just lost the Wilson account. Sue: What! What's the matter with you? That account pays your salary! McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. See also: what's the matter What's the matter (with someone or something)? be the matter be the matter (with someone or something) record any way no matter what the matter at hand course be a matter of (doing something) References in periodicals archive 3 CARING husband award to Emmerdale's Grayson for this exchange with wife Perdy: Grayson: "What's the matter?" Perdy: "I've had a hysterectomy for God's sake!" Grayson: "Oh yeah, right." GIMME FIVE; ...TV moments of the week.. WHAT'S THE MATTER? Henning Heiselberg of the Danish Defense Research Establishment in Copenhagen is a theoretical nuclear physicist who specializes in neutron stars. Extreme impersonations: frigid atomic clouds mimic neutron stars, exotic superconductors, and the newborn universe "What's the matter?" asked personnel manager Barry Depot. Smallest need gets attention. (Wal*Mart) Are we to find these people and ask them what's the matter? Tragedy shocked all of us The shift supervisor takes him aside and asks, "What's the matter? Is something going on in your personal life?" QPR: police suicide prevention Why on earth can't you occupy yourself with something?' 'What's the matter?' 'The matter? MORNINGSERIAL A man stopped and asked: "What's the matter? Did you fall over?" And I said: "No. A Chic off the old block
随便看	could teach (someone) a thing or two (about someone or something) could tell someone a thing or two could tell (someone) a thing or two (about someone or something) Could we continue this later? Could you excuse us, please? Could you hold? Could you hold(, please)? Could you keep a secret? council council pop expand expand horizons expand into expand on expand (one's) horizons expand (something) into (something) expand (up)on (something) expatiate expatiate on expatiate on (someone or something) expecations expect expectant mother expectation expect for