now what

English

Phrase

now what?

1. A request, usually rhetorical, to know what, in a series of negative events, is the next negative event occurring.
   • 2009, Norman Berrow, Oil Under the Window, page 158:

     With his hand on the instrument, the bell shrilled loudly. “Now, what?” growled Sir Julius.

   • 2012, Gary T. Brideau, River of Fire, page 137:

     Moe pressed the retrieval button, but, nothing happened. “Now what,” grumbled Moe.

   • 2015, Chris Grabenstein, The Island of Dr. Libris, page 60:

     There was a tremendous splash. And then everything was quiet. Until Billy heard a rustling in the forest behind him. Great. Now what?

2. A request for advice or instruction on what should be done, when a situation has turned negative, particularly if a contingency has failed.
   • 2011, Keith Maillard, Lyndon Johnson and the Majorettes: Difficulty at the Beginning - Book 3, page 131:

     Somehow I didn't think it worked that way—not when they needed thirty-five thousand men a month. Now what? Revington was right; I'd run out of options

   • 2012, Sara Connell, Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story, page 118:

     “The cerclage didn't work,” I said. “So now what?” Bill said. “Now what!”

See also

• what now
• now that

Further reading

• “now what” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “what now now what” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.

Anagrams

• what now