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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread what for? #33999 06/28/2001 8:12 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,055 Berlin belligerentyouth old hand belligerentyouth old hand Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,055 Berlin Fooling about the other day, as you do, I told someone I'd give them what for, meaning that I'll swipe them one. I'm not sure I heard it correctly back then, so is this turn of phrase generally known? Where does it come from? I wonder if it might pertain to a person getting whacked and then saying 'Oww, what for?!'. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34000 06/28/2001 9:07 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 618 Australia doc_comfort addict doc_comfort addict Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 618 Australia Or possibly... "Go to your room" "What for?" "I'll give you "what for". Now GO!!" NOT speaking from experience Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34001 06/28/2001 12:31 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 Sparteye Pooh-Bah Sparteye Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 That use of "what for" is part of the vernacular in Michigan. And I like Doc's surmise of its origination. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34002 06/28/2001 1:09 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,055 Berlin belligerentyouth old hand belligerentyouth old hand Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,055 Berlin I agree Sparteye. Our medic of snugness seems to have found a likely origin. Strangely enough, I don't think I've ever heard it used exactly as described. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34003 06/28/2001 1:13 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Echoing doc_c and Sparteye, I have heard the expression from my youth from my Scotland born Chicago raised father and used exactly as doc_c described. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34004 06/28/2001 1:25 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 I heard it in New England also. Parent: "Go to bed now, or I'll give you what for." (without child having said a word.) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34005 06/28/2001 5:52 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 87 City of Brotherly Love, no not... nikeblack journeyman nikeblack journeyman Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 87 City of Brotherly Love, no not... Parent: Wash the dishes. Child: What for? Parent: "Wash 'em, or I'll givya what for! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34006 06/28/2001 11:17 PM Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,189 Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,189 Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... I've also heard it commonly used in a sporting context: Go out there and show 'em 'what for'! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: what for? #34007 06/29/2001 1:38 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Scout leader: Run and get the potfer, or I'll give you what for! Scout: Potfer? What's a potfer? Scout leader: to cook in. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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