what of it: Idiom Meaning and Origin

What does ‘what of it’ mean?

"What of it" is an idiomatic phrase that is used to express a lack of concern or indifference towards a situation. It suggests that the speaker does not consider the matter to be significant or important in any way.

Idiom Explorer

Intricate Interpretations

The idiom "what of it" is used to convey a dismissive or unconcerned attitude towards a particular situation or issue. It is often used when someone asks a question or makes a statement, and the speaker doesn't think it's important. For example, if someone asks, "What do you think about the new dress code?" and you respond with "What of it?" you're essentially saying that you don't think the dress code is significant or worth discussing.

This idiom is related to the idioms "what's it to you," "the thing of it," and "not much of anything." Let's explore each of these idioms and see how they are connected to "what of it."

The New York Times writer wrote an in-depth article.

The idiom "what's it to you" is used when someone asks a question that is none of their business or shows too much interest in a matter that doesn't concern them. It is a response that suggests the speaker doesn't think the question is relevant or important. For example, if someone asks, "Why did you skip the party last night?" and you reply with "What's it to you?" you're basically saying that you don't think it's their business to know why you didn't attend the party.

The idiom "the thing of it" is used to refer to a particular aspect or aspect of something. It is often used to emphasize the importance or significance of that aspect. For example, if someone says, "I didn't like the book, but the thing of it is that the ending was intriguing," they are highlighting that despite their overall negative opinion of the book, they found the ending to be noteworthy or thought-provoking.

The idiom "not much of anything" is used to express the idea that something is insignificant or of little importance. It is often used in a context where someone is asking about the significance or impact of a particular situation, and the speaker responds with this idiom to indicate that the situation has no real effect. For example, if someone asks, "Did the new regulations have any impact on your business?" and you reply with "Not much of anything," you're saying that the regulations didn't really have any significant impact on your business.

The idiom "what of it" is used to convey a dismissive or unconcerned attitude towards a situation or issue. It is often used in response to a question or statement that the speaker doesn't think is important. It is related to the idioms "what's it to you," "the thing of it," and "not much of anything," each of which adds a different nuance to the overall concept of indifference or disregard. These idioms are all examples of how language can be used to convey nuanced meanings and attitudes in a concise and effective manner.

Example usage

Examples of how the idiom "what of it" can be used in a sentence:

  1. "So what if I made a mistake? What of it?"
  2. "He criticized my outfit, but I walked away confidently thinking, 'what of it?'"
  3. "She questioned my decision, but I calmly replied, 'I've made up my mind, what of it?'"

More "Interrogative" idioms