If you add for what it's worth to something that you say , you are suggesting that what you are saying or referring to may not be very valuable or helpful , especially because you do not want to appear arrogant .
give a person what for
to punish or reprimand a person severely
what are you waiting for
If you say to someone ' What are you waiting for? ' you are telling them to hurry up and do something.
what does someone have to say for themselves
If someone asks what you have to say for yourself , they are asking what excuse you have for what you have done .
what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
If you say what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander , you mean what is acceptable for one person in a particular situation should be acceptable for another person in a similar situation.
what for in British English
a.
for what purpose? why?
b. informal
a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase give (a person) what for)
See full dictionary entry for what
what-for in British English
(ˌwɒtˈfɔː)
noun
informal
a punishment or reprimand
The fans call up and give the athletes what-for for 24 hours a day.
She'll give him what-for if she finds out!
what for in American English
1.
for what purpose? why?
2. Slang
punishment; esp., a whipping
he gave his son what for!
See full dictionary entry for what
Examples of 'what for' in a sentence
what for
The angels all will cry Candy, little angel in the sky We'll never know why you live no more Or what for
David Cavanagh MUSIC FOR BOYS (2003)
Quite what for, he couldn't say - that was just the trouble.
Brandon, Ruth LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTRE
He spread his hands in what for him is a dramatic gesture of helplessness.
Goldsborough, Robert MURDER IN E MINOR
`I need you, I need you this evening, you know what for.