you what
476
9.9
- idiom
- /juː wɒt/
- UK
:
¿Cómo?
- "Hey, I can tell you what you want to know," the voice from the burning bush said.
- "You what," he said
- You what? Go
Examples
-
Well, I have to tell you what I've done.
-
Boy, I tell you what.
-
I tell you what I would have done.
-
Alright, I tell you what.
-
We're supposed to tell you what to do around here.
Fiction book (1999) -
I'll tell you what you need to know.
-
I'll tell you what to do.
-
Meghan, I'll tell you what.
-
You what?
-
You really expect me to believe that? I'll tell you what, I need more proof!
Synonyms
∞
8.0
A short sound that shows you do not understand or are surprised
68
9.8
A short phrase showing surprise and not believing what someone said
61
9.9
A short informal word people say to show surprise or ask someone to repeat
13
7.4
Shows surprise or mild doubt about what someone just said
5
9.9
A phrase people say to show strong surprise or that they do not believe what someone just said
4
9.9
A short sound you make to show confusion or ask someone to repeat
A strong spoken reaction showing surprise and disbelief
How Disbelieving
Surface Forms
Morphology
you + what
The phrase is an elliptical interrogative combining the pronoun 'you' with the question word 'what', so a learner who knows both words will likely recognise it as a surprised or questioning remark. However, the specific pragmatic uses (informal disbelief, incredulous repetition request, or tone) are colloquial and not fully predictable from the literal meanings, so prior exposure is usually needed.
Etymology
You what probably comes from the short question 'You said what?'. People dropped the word 'said' and left the quick, shocked words you and what, so today it is used to show 'surprise' or to ask someone to 'repeat'.