(idiomatic) Precisely what the situation really is or what the facts truly are; the true state of things.

(colloquial, sometimes rhetorical question) What is wrong with. / (colloquial, sometimes rhetorical question) What is the reason for.

(colloquial) What is that? / (colloquial) What was that?

What is. / What has. / What does.

Alternative form of know what is what

(UK, dated) Used to add emphasis to, and to seek agreement with, a previous statement.

Alternative form of what's what

(euphemistic, African-American Vernacular) What the hell.

(idiomatic, dated) Something of the kind, whatever (used to terminate a vague list).

(by ellipsis) Used to express astonishment or incredulity, as a question or questioning of the situation at hand, without requiring any specific vulgarity as intensifier.