how do you do

¹

interjection

1. (used as a conventional greeting.)

how-do-you-do

²

[ 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

sentence substitute

1. Alsohow 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 do¹

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

She tried the direct, how-do-you-do handshake approach, but was blocked by a burly aide-de-camp.

From The Daily Beast

Then he of Clusium would flutter and say, How-do-you-do, in squeaky crow tones.

From Project Gutenberg

Dinah Oh, Mr. Pim, you mustn't run away without even saying how-do-you-do!

From Project Gutenberg

The idea of going right into the pantry without a how-do-you-do 21 or a by-your-leave!

From Project Gutenberg

Do you people down there still keep up that tiresome business of 'how-do-you-do' and 'good-bye'?

From Project Gutenberg

The children of the ranchman called the birds the 'how-do-you-do owls,' from the way they bow their heads as people pass.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hello
• nod
• ovation
• reception
• salute