what's new phrase 2noun 1 phrase2 •(informal) An informal greeting asking the other person what has recently happened in their life. A typical response might be "Not much; you?". The greeting is not always literal and may just be used to say hello. •A rhetorical request for some real news, on hearing a report that was not news because it represents a continuing predictable and unsatisfactory situation.You're still having problems with that idiot you employed last year? So, what's new? noun1 •The latest developments in a particular situation or a person's life.We send out a newsletter to our clients every week to tell them what's new in the company.