what for

phrase

1

: for what purpose or reason : why

—usually used with the other words of a question between what and for

What did you do that for?

except when used alone

2

: harsh treatment especially by blows or by a sharp reprimand

… gave him what for in violent Spanish …

—New Yorker

Examples of what for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home. — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Rhymes for what for

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore