Etymology

what's up

Today it means: What’s the matter? What is the problem? What is wrong? Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

Popularized by the cartoon character Bugs Bunny as part of his catchphrase “Eh... What’s up, doc?”, as early as 1940. Originally a common greeting from Bugs Bunny creator Tex Avery's neighborhood in Taylor, Texas.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.