Reader question:

What does this – What's the deal with Jim tomorrow – mean?

My comments:

It means "What are we going to do tomorrow with Jerry?"

What's the plan? Are we going to visit his house in the country? Is he going to pick us up? Will there be time for a bit of mountain climbing? What about dinner? Who's gonna pay? Are we going to go Dutch?

So on and so forth. At any rate, there's no real "deal" in the form of a contract to propose, negotiate and sign.

"What's the deal" is an American colloquialism. Depending on context, it may mean: What's the situation? What's happening? What's wrong? What's the problem? What's the matter?

As it is with colloquialisms in general, all you need is see other people use it, and see it often – and you'll get the hang of it.

So therefore, without further ado, let's see the expression at work via media examples (explanation or paraphrasing in brackets is mine):

1. What's the deal with Harriet Miers?

(Why did Bush name White House counsel Miers, who's never been a judge, to the Supreme Court?)

By nominating Harriet Mires to the Supreme Court, President Bush is turning to a trusted advisor who has a reputation for keeping her mouth shut—and putting her in a key position for damage control. Her nomination might make people like Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, and Tom DeLay breathe a little easier.

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