It’s a phrase that pops up in conversations, sometimes with a hint of impatience, other times with genuine curiosity. "What are you after?" It sounds so straightforward, doesn't it? But like many seemingly simple questions in English, it carries a bit more nuance than you might initially expect.
At its heart, when someone asks "What are you after?", they're essentially asking about your objective, your goal, or what you're trying to achieve. Think of it as a more informal way of saying, "What is your intention?" or "What are you looking for?"
We see this in action in the reference material, where "be after" is defined as "to be looking for something." So, if the police are "after him," they're actively searching for him. It’s a pursuit. Similarly, if you're asking someone "What are you after?" in a situation where they're behaving in a way that seems a bit out of the ordinary or perhaps even unreasonable, you're trying to understand the underlying motive. Are they trying to prove a point? Are they seeking a specific outcome? It’s a way to cut through the action and get to the 'why'.
It’s interesting how language evolves, isn't it? The phrase "what are you trying to prove" is a perfect example of this. It’s an idiom, a set phrase that carries a meaning beyond the literal words. It’s used when someone's actions seem to lack a clear, logical purpose, and the questioner is probing for that hidden agenda.
Now, it's important not to confuse this with other uses of "after." For instance, "after" as a preposition often signifies sequence or following something. "We went swimming after lunch" or "H comes after G in the alphabet." And then there's the polite phrase "After you," which, as one of the references points out, is a courteous way to let someone go first – a far cry from asking about their ultimate goal!
So, the next time you hear or use "What are you after?", remember it's a versatile little question. It can be a direct inquiry about a tangible search, a probe into someone's motivations, or even a slightly exasperated attempt to understand an unusual behavior. It’s a reminder that even the simplest phrases can hold a world of meaning, depending on the context and the tone with which they're delivered.
