what’s up? phr.
1. a general enquiry or greeting, also attrib.
Wild Tribes of London 104: Hilloh, Tom! what’s up, that you are obleeged to patch up your crab-shells? [...] Mr. Bradley [...] replies that ‘nuffin’s up’, but that times is bad. | ||
(con. 1840s–50s) London Labour and London Poor I 19/1: ‘Bill Smith’ is called to in a loud voice from one side, and a shout in answer from the other asks ‘What’s up?’. | ||
Luck of Roaring Camp (1873) 75: Unfortunately, its outward expression was vague, being limited to a repetition of the following formula, – Su’shine all ri’!. Wasser maär, eh? Wass up, su’shine? | ||
(con. c.1840) Huckleberry Finn 105: Hello, what’s up? Don’t cry, bub. | ||
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 27 Feb. 4/5: ‘What’s up!’ replies the guard. ‘Jamie there (pointing to the driver) has let the water off the bile again. | ||
Signor Lippo 97: My good Jack, what’s up? | ||
Truth (Sydney) 5 May 3/3: What’s up [...] explain your hilarity. | ||
Wind in the Willows (1995) 67: ‘What’s up, Ratty?’ asked the Mole. | ||
Marvel 15 Oct. 21: What’s up, Pete? | ||
Nights in Town 305: Some cried ‘Whassup?’. | ||
Dear Ducks 35: What’s up, Pat? I’ll tell ye what’s up. | ||
(con. WW1) Patrol 148: ‘Whassup?’ he said, in a sibilant shout intended for a whisper. | ||
Brighton Rock (1943) 226: He stopped and said to the Boy: ‘What’s up?’. | ||
Capricornia (1939) 515: ‘Hey!’ ‘Wassup?’ asked a sleepy voice. | ||
Man with the Golden Arm 169: What’s the matter? What’s up? | ||
Jim Brady 13: What’s up, sonny? | ||
Howard Street 25: Yeah, baby. What’s up? | ||
Picture Palace 220: I heard the mutters: Some crazy dame, What’s up? and Search me. | ||
Campus Sl. Fall 6: ’s up – greeting. | ||
Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 127: Aye, what’s up, Moxey ... oh. | ||
Campus Sl. Mar. 9: ’sup – greeting. | ||
Crack War (1991) 91: Todd gave Marshal a handshake and asked, ‘Sup?’ street slang for ‘What’s up?’. | ||
Campus Sl. Apr. 10: what up – greeting. | ||
Six Out Seven (1994) 331: ‘S’up, Ethan?’ asked the boy. | ||
🎵 So whassup nigga? That’s whassup nigga. | ‘U Betta Recognize’||
Detroit Free Press (MI) 8 Feb. 3E/1-3: What’s up. This is Chandra . | ||
Clueless [film script] Dee? Whatup? | ||
(con. 1970s) King Suckerman (1998) 219: Hey, wha’s up? | ||
Campus Sl. Apr. 9: ’sup – greeting. | ||
Indep. Rev. 10 Aug. 7: The hair-gelled bucks who never get beyond, ‘Hey, guy, what’s up?’ [...] in their conversations. | ||
Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 wuzzup Definition: ‘How is your day?’ Example: Wuzzup dog, how you doing? | ||
Guardian Guide 1–6 Jan. 17: The people who know me just walk up, ‘Hey, Ice! What’s up man?’. | ||
Westsiders 244: ‘Wassup?’ he says, looking at the door. | ||
(con. 1975–6) Steel Toes 94: Yo, zup, ben be wantin’ you two downstairs in the main room. | ||
Portable Promised Land (ms.) 151: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Yo!!! What it look like? What it is. Whazzzap?! | ||
Londonstani (2007) 16: Kiddaan, man, ’sup, homeboy? | ||
🎵 Hey, what’s up, baby, what’s cracking, baby, what’s going on with you, girl? | ‘Treat Her Like A Lady’||
IOL News (Western Cape) 10 June 🌐 Wassup, bro’, how have you been? | ||
Corruption Officer [ebk] cap. 20: I say ’Whatup,’ and breeze to my building. | ||
On the Bro’d 14: I strutted over and gave a ‘what up’ nod to them. | ||
OG Dad 15: Forgive me, I’m not going to say Baby Mama; it reminds me of pinstriped, barely post-pube Hollywood agents who greet each other with ‘Whassup, dawg?’. |
2. what’s the matter? esp. in what’s up with you/her? etc.
Glance at N.Y. II iv: What’s up? Say, Bubby, what’s de matter? | ||
Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. III 59: Why what’s hup now, my kiddy? | ||
Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 18/2: ‘What is up?’ cried ‘J. D.;’ ‘what arouses your ire?’ / ‘It’s in print,’ shrieked poor Angus; ‘look here! in the Lyre.’. | ||
Sporting Times 8 Mar. 1/4: Gub turned up on Tuesday with his arm in a sling. ‘Hullo,’ cried Pitcher, ‘what’s up, Gub? Been trying to scratch yourself with your elbow?’. | ||
Boy’s Own Paper 16 Feb. 308: When I whispered ‘What’s up?’ she shook her head. | ||
Naval Occasions 10: ‘In the bloomin’ rattle, I am,’ explained the disturber of traffic. ‘Wha’s up, then?’. | ‘Captain’s Defaulters’ in||
Juno and the Paycock Act III: What’s up, what’s wrong, Captain? | ||
They Drive by Night 103: ‘I’m in a right two and eight.’ ‘What’s up?’ ‘What’s up? Plenty!’. | ||
(con. 1944) Naked and Dead 366: What’s up, he wondered. | ||
Jimmy Brockett 140: What’s up, boss? Fallen out with the trouble and strife? | ||
Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: johnstone: Get on your feet, lad! / bamforth: What’s up? | ||
Saved Scene ii: Wass up darlin’? | ||
Fantastic Four Annual 38: What’s up, Sue? | ||
Only Fools and Horses [TV script] What’s up with you then, eh? | ‘The Second Time Around’||
Vinnie Got Blown Away 136: Fuckin’ what up Nicky? [...] What happening Nicky? | ||
Powder 241: What’s up? baby? | ||
Guardian 28 Jan. 32: What’s up with it, Deems? |
3. what is happening?, what is going on?
Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Nov. 15/1: ‘Stan’ back there! Mind yer toes!!’ / ‘Orright! Don’t lose yer ’ead! / Wot’s up in ’ere? ’Oo knows?’ / ‘’Oo sez there was two dead?’. | ||
Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 88: What’s up, for chrissake? | ||
Mr Blue 80: ‘He’s okay,’ was the answer. ‘What’s up?’. | ||
Urban Grimshaw 41: All right, Urb? What’s up? |