what it is
English
editEtymology
editPossibly a combination of what up with how goes it and similar phrases. First use appears c. 1972. See cite below.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file) Audio (Mid-Atlantic US): (file)
Phrase
edit- (slang, African-American Vernacular) A casual greeting.
- 1972, Odie Hawkins, Odie Hawkins:
- Mrs. Franklin breaks her embrace, begins running water into the sink to wash dishes...What it is, baby. What it is.
- 2001, Chris Fuhrman, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, University of Georgia Press, →ISBN, page 162:
- A boy broke out of the crowd shouting, "Hey! Hey! What it is, brothers, what it is?"