What is the difficulty or problem? What troubles or ails you? For example, You look upset--what's the matter? or Can you tell me what's the matter with my car? This idiom uses matter in the sense of "the essence of something," in this case a problem. It was first recorded in 1469. Also see
what's with.
what's the matter
| Idioms: what's the matter |
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 | Morton Haack (Actor, Comedy/Action) |
| unlace |
| Slim and the Supreme Angels: Nobody But You (1996 Spirituality & Philosophy Film) |
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- Morton Haack (Actor, Comedy/Action)
- unlace
- Slim and the Supreme Angels: Nobody But You (1996 Spirituality & Philosophy Film)
- what of it? (Idiom)
- what (Idiom)
- Spotlite on Apollo Records, Vol. 5 (1996 Album by Various Artists)
- 24 Hours (1999 Album by Ant Trip Ceremony)
- Archetypes (1974 Album by The Small Faces)
- James Dobson (Actor, Drama/Romance)
- slip a cog (Idiom)
- Natalie Merchant: VH1 Storytellers (TV Episode) (Music TV Episode)
- psionically
- This Heart of Mine (196 Album by Carol Lawrence)
- Rockin' the Blues (1981 Album by Memphis Slim)
