how do you do

¹

interjection

1. (used as a conventional greeting.)

how-do-you-do

²

Also how-de-do

[hou-duh-yuh-doo]

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.

how do you do

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

noun

1. informal,  a difficult situation

Word History and Origins

Origin of how do you do?¹

First recorded in 1625–35

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

And that’s why I sort of knew the “CSI” idea was the one to go with, to do, because people were fascinated with the whole “How do you do this stuff?”

From Los Angeles Times

"But how do you do that in a country where you're not welcome," Jonathan added.

From BBC

Villarreal: How do you do in emergency situations?

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Braddock said the gym was there to help people start exercising, know what to do and where, and who with, adding that everyone knew about the benefits of exercise on mental health, but the question for many was " how do you do it".

From BBC

One of the marvels of the book is its first-person narration, and we wondered, “How do you do that on screen?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hello 
• nod 
• ovation 
• reception 
• salute