how do you do

¹ American  

interjection

1. (used as a conventional greeting.)

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how-do-you-do ² American  

[hou-duh-yuh-doo] / ˈhaʊ də yəˈdu /

Also how-de-do

noun

Informal.

plural

how-do-you-dos

1. a greeting; salutation.

   She smiled and gave him a how-do-you-do fit for a king.

2. an awkward or unpleasant event or situation.

   It's a fine how-do-you-do that they've refused to help us out.

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how do you do British  

1. Also: how do?.   how d'ye do?.  a formal greeting said by people who are being introduced to each other or are meeting for the first time

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noun

1. informal a difficult situation

how do you do? Idioms  

1. A conventional greeting used mostly after being introduced to someone, as in And this is our youngest—say “How do you do” to Mr. Smith. Although it is a question, it requires no reply. Originally, in the 1600s, this expression was an inquiry after a person's health or standing, how do you do meaning “how do you fare?” Today we usually express this as How are you? or How are you doing? or How goes it? or How's it going? Even more general are the slangy locutions How are things? or How's tricks? All of these greetings date from the first half of the 1900s.

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Etymology

Origin of how-do-you-do

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

“We were doing it because everybody loves it. So how do you do a show that’s beloved with someone that doesn’t love it?”

From Los Angeles Times

“I suppose I never really thought about it. How do you do it?”

From Literature

“How do you do an autopsy? What are you looking for? Why do you choose to become a medical examiner?”

From Los Angeles Times

“How do you do it?” the astonished reporter asked.

From Literature

It would seem that “How do you do?” isn’t correct either, Duane thought.

From Literature

Related Words

• hello
• nod
• ovation
• reception
• salute