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

“How do you do, Miss Lumley?” said Mrs. Worthington, clasping her hand.

From Literature

He cast his eyes about the room and said, “Mmmph mmmph mmmph mmmph?” by which he obviously meant, “How do you do?”

From Literature

“Beowulf Incorrigible. How do you do?”

From Literature

Even as they scampered after their governess, the boys began practicing their bows and socially useful phrases: “Greetings, Your Majesty! How do you do? Lovely weather! The pleasure is mine,” and so on, while Cassiopeia curtsied so low she toppled over and had to scurry to catch up.

From Literature

“How do you do, miss? Simon Harley-Dickinson, at your service. I live upstairs.”

From Literature

Related Words

• hello
• nod
• ovation
• reception
• salute