what with

English

WOTD – 17 August 2006

Pronunciation

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Preposition

what with

1. (idiomatic, informal) Owing to; because of; as a result of.

   She was sleeping very badly these days, what with the new baby and all the activity surrounding him.

   • 2009, David Walliams, Mr Stink:

     It was hard to take him seriously, though, what with his multi-colored eye makeup.

Usage notes

• Unlike its synonymous expressions, what with is always preceded by a comma if not used at the beginning of a sentence.

Translations

owing to

• Arabic: حَيْث (ḥayṯ), لِأَن (liʔan), بِسَبَب (bi-sabab)
• Icelandic: út af
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: ji ber (ku), seba (ku)