Cool MateWhat is this about vs What's all that about
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What is this about
Top 3,000 (common)
What's all that about
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: What is this about
| What is this about | What's all that about | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɪz ðɪs əˈbaʊt//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɪz ðɪs əˈbaʊt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ɔːl ðæt əˈbaʊt//🇺🇸 //wɑts ɔl ðæt əˈbaʊt// |
| Meaning | A question asking for information or clarification about a topic. | What does this mean or refer to? |
| Example | When I saw the poster, I thought, 'What is this about?' | After hearing the strange noises, she asked, "What's all that about?" |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | ask what this is about, wonder what this is about, discuss what this is about | what's all that noise about, what's all that fuss about, what's all that chatter about |
| Common mistakes | Use 'what this about' instead of 'what is this about'., Omit 'this' when asking a question., Use inappropriately in very formal situations. | Used in formal contexts, Misunderstanding the phrase as an inquiry about a specific detail rather than general meaning, Not using it in conversational tone |
| Usage notes | Use when you want to understand the main idea or purpose of something. It's appropriate in most contexts but might sound too informal in very formal settings. | "What's all that about" is often used in casual conversations to ask for clarification. It's not appropriate in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: What is this about vs What's all that about
What's the difference between What is this about and What's all that about?
What is this about: A question asking for information or clarification about a topic. What's all that about: What does this mean or refer to?
Which is more formal: What is this about and What's all that about?
What is this about is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
What is this about: When I saw the poster, I thought, 'What is this about?' What's all that about: After hearing the strange noises, she asked, "What's all that about?"
Can I use What is this about and What's all that about interchangeably?
Not always. What is this about and What's all that about are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.