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What gives?

Meaning/Usage: Used to ask what is the matter or what went wrong

Explanation: The only explanation I found was that this could have come from German borrowing. Germans used the phrase "was gibt es?" as "What is the matter?" or "What's up?" But to be honest. I am not sure about this. However, I do know that in English, it is commonly used to ask "What is the matter?"

"It's not like you to get so upset, what gives?"
"I had no idea you were leaving? What gives?"
"Your mom said you stopped taking piano lessons. What gives?"

A. "I heard that you did not pass your test?"
B. "Yeah, it was harder than I thought."
A. "You studied really hard for it though, what gives?"
B. "I guess I will just have to try harder next time.

Other Common Sentences

What's the problem?"

"What happened?"

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