Definition of How-do-you-do

1. Noun. An awkward situation. "That's a fine how-d'ye-do"

Exact synonyms: How-d'ye-do
Generic synonyms: Situation

2. Noun. An expression of greeting. "Every morning they exchanged polite hellos"
Exact synonyms: Hello, Hi, Howdy, Hullo
Generic synonyms: Greeting, Salutation

Lexicographical Neighbors of How-do-you-do

how'd
how'll
how're
how's
how's everything
how's it going
how's it hanging
how's life
how's the weather
how's things
how's tricks
how't
how've
how-d'ye-do
how-do-you-do (current term)
how-to
how-to-vote card
how-to-vote cards
how-tos
how about
how are you
how are you doing
how are you getting along
how can you sleep at night
how come
how did he die
how do I get to
how do I get to the airport

Literary usage of How-do-you-do

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Novels of Jane Austen by Jane Austen (1905)
"How do you do ? How do you do ? Very well, I thank you. ... How do you do, Mr. Richard ? I saw you the other day as you rode through the town. ..."

2. Representative British Dramas: Victorian and Modern by Montrose Jonas Moses (1918)
"How do you do. Major Thomas? PHILIP. Thomas is Mr. Eustace State's London manager. ... How do you do? [MRS. HUXTABLE takes an armchair irith the air of one ..."

3. Jane Austen's Works by Jane Austen, James Edward Austen-Leigh (1882)
"Dear Miss Woodhouse, how do you do 1 Very well I thank you, ... How do you do, Mr. Richard? I saw you the other day as you rode through the town. ..."

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