What's eating (someone)?

What's eating (someone)?

What's bothering someone? Why is someone in a bad mood? What's eating Terry today? I asked him how his weekend was and he just glared at me. I've never seen her act that way before. What's eating her?

See also: eating

What's eating someone?

Inf. Fig. What is bothering someone? Tom: Go away! Bob: Gee, Tom, what's eating you? Bill: Tom's so grouchy lately. What's eating him? Bob: Beats me!

what's eating you

Also, what's bugging you. What is annoying or bothering you? For example, We've conceded just about every point, so what's eating you now? or You're in a terrible mood-what's bugging you? The first slangy term, dating from the late 1800s, presumably uses eat in the sense of "consume"; the colloquial variant, from about 1940, uses bug in the sense of "annoy." Also see what's with.

See also: eating

what's eating someone

People ask what's eating someone, when they want to know why that person seems to be unhappy or angry. `What the hell's eating you?' he demanded.

See also: eating, someone

what's eating you (or him or her)?

what is worrying or annoying you (or him or her)? informal

See also: eating

what’s ˈeating somebody?

(spoken) used to ask why somebody is worried, unhappy, etc: You seem a bit quiet today. What’s eating you?

See also: eating