What do you mean? asks someone to explain what they're trying to say. People use it to ask about words they didn't understand. If you repeat the other person's words after a comma, the question sounds surprised or indignant: What do you mean, it's cancelled?
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What do you mean?; What do you mean by + word/noun?; What do you mean, + repeated words?
- What do you mean by 'soon'? Today or next week?
- — The trip is off. — What do you mean, it's off? We've already paid!
- Sorry, what do you mean? Could you give me an example?
What changed
First versionWhat do you mean under 'flexible hours'?
RevisionWhat do you mean by 'flexible hours'?
Learners sometimes use under here, as if the meaning were hidden under the word. But in English, the word you want explained comes after by: What do you mean by…?
What does it mean? asks about the meaning of a word: What does overtime mean? What do you mean? asks what the person was trying to say: What do you mean, overtime? I finished at five.
Your turn
I don't understand your message. What do you mean ___ 'later'?
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by — The speaker wants to know what the other person means by the word later, and for that, mean is followed by by. Under isn't used with mean in English.
Write a reply to a colleague who sent you an unclear task. Ask what they mean and name the specific word that confused you.
Thanks for the task, but what do you mean by 'a short report'? One page or five?
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