what for
Idioms-
For what purpose or reason, why, as in I know you're going to England, but what for? [Mid-1700s]
-
A punishment or scolding, as in You'll get what for from Mom if she catches you smoking , or The teacher really gave Bud what for . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was earning what for the mid-Victorian era counted as a small fortune, but no fewer than four households of assorted relatives relied on his largesse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
I said, “I’ll tell you what, for the sizzle reel, we’ll do this: You are the son of two doctors. You are ‘the boomerang kid.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
So now what for the Gunners academy graduate?
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2026
They wrote: “Mortgage costs are a decisive factor in consumers’ assessment of their ability to make what for many Americans amounts to the most meaningful purchase of their lives.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 20, 2026
Who met Ralph and Grover by the roadside, and what for?
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
