was treibt

what is … doing

→ was
phrase Uncommon #11,029
what is … doing A question about what someone is doing or getting up to; the subject comes after “treibt.”
GE: Was treibt ihr heute Abend?
EN: What are you up to tonight?

Doch was treibt sie hierher, wo sie der Polizei Kopfschmerzen bereiten?

But what brings her here, causing the police so many headaches?

— Der Postmann (1994)

Was treibt er da?

What is he doing there?

— Auf Wiedersehen, Kinder (1987)

Was treibt man in Marseille?

What is there to do in Marseille?

— Taxi (1998)

Und was treibt dich hierher?

So, what brings you here?

— Ich gab Dir mein Herz, Geliebter - Hum dil de chuke sanam (1999)

Was treibt Mama?

What's Mom up to?

— Plötzlich Papa (2016)

Was treibt ihr da hinten?

What are you doing back there?

Was treibt dich an weiterzumachen?

What drives you to keep going?

Was treibt ihr hier?

What are you guys doing here?

— Broker - Familie gesucht (2022)

Was treibt Euch denn in diese gottverdammte Gegend?

What brings you to this godforsaken place?

— Manitou's Shoe (2001)

Was treibt er jetzt schon wieder?

What is he up to now?

— Parasite (2019)

Was treibt der Kerl da bloß?

What is that guy up to?

— Hass (1995)

Was treibt ihr da?

What are you doing there?

— Komm und sieh (1985)