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

Grandpa grunted and said, “What’s the matter? Don’t you think I know what I’m doing?”

From Literature

Shaking my fist at him, I yelled, “You’re not such a brave monkey. You sicked those little monkeys on Rowdy and me but you didn’t do any fighting. What’s the matter? Are you scared? If you’ll come down here, we’ll fight you all over these bottoms.”

From Literature

Frowning, Papa looked at Mama and said, “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

From Literature

“What’s the matter with you, anyway?”

From Literature

“Rowdy,” I said, in a quavering voice, “what’s the matter with that crazy old hog? He must think I’m a bear or something.”

From Literature