“What was all that about” usage

idiomatic-languageidiomsphrase-usagephrasesusage

Let's say someone is using a vending machine with his eyes closed.

A second listener finds this behavior strange (obviously). So when the first person is done with the vending machine, she asks, "What was all that about?"

Is what was all that about used correctly in this situation? Why or why not?

Best Answer

As a British English speaker, I find "What was that all about?" perfectly normal, after something said or done that I find inexplicable, either as a direct question to the sayer or doer, or, very often, as a rhetorical question to another bystander. In the latter case a possible response might be a shrug, or rolled eyes, or both.

Related Topic