The phrase "what's under the hood" refers to the inner workings or mechanisms of a machine or system. There are quite a few synonyms that can convey the same meaning, such as "what's in the engine," "what makes it tick," or "what's running the show." Other alternatives include "what's powering it," "what's driving it," or "what's controlling it." Ultimately, all of these phrases are attempting to uncover the hidden components that are responsible for the operations of a given device or system. By asking this question, one can gain a better understanding of how something works and identify any potential issues that may need addressing.