Green’s Dictionary of Slang

what’s up? phr.

also ’sup? wassup? whassup? wha’s up? what up? whazzap? wuzzup? ’zup?

1. a general enquiry or greeting, also attrib.

[UK]W. Phillips 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.
[UK](con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew 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?’.
[US]B. Harte 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?
[US](con. c.1840) ‘Mark Twain’ 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.
[UK]P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 97: My good Jack, what’s up?
[Aus]Truth (Sydney) 5 May 3/3: What’s up [...] explain your hilarity.
[UK]K. Grahame Wind in the Willows (1995) 67: ‘What’s up, Ratty?’ asked the Mole.
[UK]Marvel 15 Oct. 21: What’s up, Pete?
[UK]T. Burke Nights in Town 305: Some cried ‘Whassup?’.
[Ire]L. Doyle Dear Ducks 35: What’s up, Pat? I’ll tell ye what’s up.
[UK](con. WW1) P. MacDonald Patrol 148: ‘Whassup?’ he said, in a sibilant shout intended for a whisper.
[UK]G. Greene Brighton Rock (1943) 226: He stopped and said to the Boy: ‘What’s up?’.
[Aus]X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 515: ‘Hey!’ ‘Wassup?’ asked a sleepy voice.
[US]N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 169: What’s the matter? What’s up?
[US]J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 13: What’s up, sonny?
[US]N. Heard Howard Street 25: Yeah, baby. What’s up?
[UK]P. Theroux Picture Palace 220: I heard the mutters: Some crazy dame, What’s up? and Search me.
[US]Eble Campus Sl. Fall 6: ’s up – greeting.
[UK]F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 127: Aye, what’s up, Moxey ... oh.
[US]Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 9: ’sup – greeting.
[US]M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 91: Todd gave Marshal a handshake and asked, ‘Sup?’ street slang for ‘What’s up?’.
[US]Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 10: what up – greeting.
[UK]J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 331: ‘S’up, Ethan?’ asked the boy.
[US]Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘U Betta Recognize’ 🎵 So whassup nigga? That’s whassup nigga.
[US]Detroit Free Press (MI) 8 Feb. 3E/1-3: What’s up. This is Chandra .
[US]A. Heckerling Clueless [film script] Dee? Whatup?
[US](con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 219: Hey, wha’s up?
[US]Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 9: ’sup – greeting.
[UK]Indep. Rev. 10 Aug. 7: The hair-gelled bucks who never get beyond, ‘Hey, guy, what’s up?’ [...] in their conversations.
[US]Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 wuzzup Definition: ‘How is your day?’ Example: Wuzzup dog, how you doing?
[UK]Guardian Guide 1–6 Jan. 17: The people who know me just walk up, ‘Hey, Ice! What’s up man?’.
[US]W. Shaw Westsiders 244: ‘Wassup?’ he says, looking at the door.
[US](con. 1975–6) E. Little Steel Toes 94: Yo, zup, ben be wantin’ you two downstairs in the main room.
[US]‘Touré’ Portable Promised Land (ms.) 151: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Yo!!! What it look like? What it is. Whazzzap?!
[UK]G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 16: Kiddaan, man, ’sup, homeboy?
D.P.G. ‘Treat Her Like A Lady’ 🎵 Hey, what’s up, baby, what’s cracking, baby, what’s going on with you, girl?
[SA]IOL News (Western Cape) 10 June 🌐 Wassup, bro’, how have you been?
[US]G. Hayward Corruption Officer [ebk] cap. 20: I say ’Whatup,’ and breeze to my building.
[US]M. Lacher On the Bro’d 14: I strutted over and gave a ‘what up’ nod to them.
[US]J. Stahl 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.

[US]A. Greene Glance at N.Y. II iv: What’s up? Say, Bubby, what’s de matter?
[US]‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. III 59: Why what’s hup now, my kiddy?
[Aus]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.’.
[UK]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?’.
[UK]Boy’s Own Paper 16 Feb. 308: When I whispered ‘What’s up?’ she shook her head.
[UK]‘Bartimeus’ ‘Captain’s Defaulters’ in Naval Occasions 10: ‘In the bloomin’ rattle, I am,’ explained the disturber of traffic. ‘Wha’s up, then?’.
[Ire]S. O’Casey Juno and the Paycock Act III: What’s up, what’s wrong, Captain?
[UK]J. Curtis They Drive by Night 103: ‘I’m in a right two and eight.’ ‘What’s up?’ ‘What’s up? Plenty!’.
[US](con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 366: What’s up, he wondered.
[Aus]D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 140: What’s up, boss? Fallen out with the trouble and strife?
[UK]W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: johnstone: Get on your feet, lad! / bamforth: What’s up?
[UK]E. Bond Saved Scene ii: Wass up darlin’?
[US]Fantastic Four Annual 38: What’s up, Sue?
[UK]J. Sullivan ‘The Second Time Around’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] What’s up with you then, eh?
[UK]J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 136: Fuckin’ what up Nicky? [...] What happening Nicky?
[UK]K. Sampson Powder 241: What’s up? baby?
[UK]Guardian 28 Jan. 32: What’s up with it, Deems?

3. what is happening?, what is going on?

[Aus]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?’.
[Aus]B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 88: What’s up, for chrissake?
[US]E. Bunker Mr Blue 80: ‘He’s okay,’ was the answer. ‘What’s up?’.
[UK]B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 41: All right, Urb? What’s up?