Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (230 page)

What's it to you?
Why does it matter to you?; It's none of your business. (Colloquial and a bit contentious.)
T
OM
: Where are you going? J
ANE
: What's it to you?
M
ARY
: Bill's pants don't match his shirt. J
ANE
: Does it matter? What's it to you?

What's keeping
someone
?
What is delaying someone? (The
someone
is replaced by a person's name or a pronoun.)
B
OB
: Wasn't Mary supposed to be here? B
ILL
: I thought so. B
OB
: Well, what's keeping her? B
ILL
: How should I know?
B
ILL
: I've been waiting here for an hour for Sally. S
UE
: What's keeping her?

What's new?
What things have happened since we last met?
M
ARY
: Greetings, Jane. What's new? J
ANE
: Nothing much
.
B
OB
: What's new? T
OM
: Not a whole lot.

What's new with you?
a typical response to What's new?
M
ARY
: What's new? S
ALLY
: Oh, nothing. What's new with you? M
ARY
: The same
.
F
RED
: Hi, John! How you doing? J
OHN
: Great! What's new with you?

What's not to love?
Isn't it good?; Isn't that the best?
Yes, it's a great idea. What's not to love?
Yeah. This is the best small car made. What's not to love?

What's on tap for today?
What is on the schedule for today?; What is going to happen today? (As a beer that is on tap and ready to be served.)
T
OM
: Good morning, Fred. F
RED
: Morning. What's on tap for today? T
OM
: Trouble in the morning and difficulty in the afternoon. F
RED
: So, nothing's new
.
S
ALLY
: Can we have lunch today? S
UE
: I'll have to look at my schedule and see what's on tap for today.

What's the (big) idea?
What have you done?; Why did you do that? (Usually expressing a little anger.)
You knocked the book out of my hand. What's the big idea?
What's the idea? You just about knocked me down! Watch where you're going!