I often seem \u201cdown\u201d to people recently \u2014 probably because I am, but anyhow yesterday someone asked me, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d Really, he was asking, \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d I got to thinking about that and I realized that sometimes I say whats the matter when I really mean what\u2019s wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turns out that the phrase \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d comes from the older use of the word \u201cmatter,\u201d which originally meant \u201ca subject, issue or situation.\u201d Technically, I think when you ask \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d you\u2019re really asking \u201cWhat\u2019s the situation?\u201d or \u201cWhat\u2019s the issue?\u201d\u00a0
Over time, the phrase came to be associated with concern or worry and it\u2019s now mostly used when something seems to be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The association with something being wrong probably strengthened because people tended to use \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d when they noticed someone was upset, depressed, or dealing with a problem. As a result, the phrase became shorthand, or in place of, asking \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I often seem \u201cdown\u201d to people recently \u2014 probably because I am, but anyhow yesterday someone asked me, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d Really, he was asking, \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d I got to thinking about that and I realized that sometimes I say … Continue reading