what's the matter

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

“What’s the matter with you, Charlie? You wait for every last thing to get done, you won’t go anywhere in this life.”

From Literature

“What’s the matter, Jay Berry?” she asked.

From Literature

“What’s the matter, little girl?”

From Literature

Surprised at this, I said, “Won’t let you get close to him? What’s the matter with him?”

From Literature

“Rowdy,” I said, in a hard voice, “you get down out of that buckboard. You can’t go to town with us. What’s the matter with you anyway?”

From Literature