What is this all about with you?

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Marius Hancu - 17 Jan 2010 17:29 GMT

Hello:

Have you ever heard:

"What is this all about with you?"

I assume it means:

"What's the matter/problem with you?"
"What is going on with you?"

but it seems quite rare.

--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Derek Turner - 17 Jan 2010 17:47 GMT

> Hello:
>
> Have you ever heard:
>
> "What is this all about with you?"

No.

> I assume it means:
>
> "What's the matter/problem with you?" "What is going on with you?"
>
> but it seems quite rare.

Paging Daniel. Daniel to the keyboard, please.

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Cheryl - 17 Jan 2010 17:47 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

I don't think I've ever heard that sentence, but if I did, your
interpretation sounds good to me.

I suppose someone could say "What is this all about?" (about some
disturbance or other) and tack on "with you" if he thought one of the
parties seemed to be at fault. I can't see using it in written language.

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Cheryl

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 17 Jan 2010 18:24 GMT

>Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>but it seems quite rare.

So r*** that Google found only one instance. There is a piece about a
woman damaging her and her husband's car and her husband's reaction. Way
down the page is a comment headed "Well..." including the sentence "What
is this all about with you?".
http://www.takeninhand.com/node/565

The sentence seems to have several possible meanings.

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Jonathan Morton - 17 Jan 2010 19:30 GMT

>>Hello:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> The sentence seems to have several possible meanings.

My reaction to Marius's original post is that this is a strange combination
of "what is it with [or "about"] you?" - a very disparaging remark - and
"what's that all about, then?", a more frivolous effort from northern
England.

Regards

Jonathan

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tony cooper - 17 Jan 2010 19:36 GMT

>Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>"What's the matter/problem with you?"
>"What is going on with you?"

I would take it to mean that the asker thinks that the concern is more
than what appears on the surface...that there's some sort of
unrevealed agenda.

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Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

What is this all about with you?