And what's that when you take it out of the box?

[tesoke]

Hi, during the sentences from “I’m a stranger here myself” by Bill Bryson, I cannot understand the role of "when" in that. Would you please explain it to me? Thanks a lot.

"And what's that when you take it out of the box?" I asked unhappily. "Something you wouldn't like, dear." My wife said.

 

[Glenfarclas]

Why wouldn't "when" mean here what it always does? (e.g., "What did she say when she called you?")

 

[Keith Bradford]

"When you take it out of the box" (like "When it's at home") is a humorous expression to show mild disdain for the thing being talked about.

 

[tesoke]

Thank you Keith Bradford! Would you please explain more why "when" has added a humorous expression to exemplify another explanation for such a "when"? Thanks a lot.

 

[Keith Bradford]

In this case, the idea is something like:

"When the object is inside the box I can't see it properly, so take it out of the box and then I can identify it."

But as I said, it need not be taken literally. There may in fact be no material object, no box.