how do you do....
By raclie
@raclie (1732)
Singapore
August 20, 2008 8:52am CST
well, the correct answer to this question is "how do you do?"
so in a sense, it is like...
A: how do you do?
B:how do you do?
*shake hands*
and well...
i find that phrase of greeting people rather silly...
i mean...
in a sense, you are asking how is someone, but just have a enquire back, without having the conversation being too personal...
i mean, it just shouts a signal, i am just how are you to be polite and i really, really dont want to know how are you as a person...
so lets just carry on our business...
is it just me? or do you hate that phrase too?
2 people like this
3 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
22 Aug 08
It is not a phrase that I use myself or have really seen used at all anymore to be honest. I find it more common for someone to state "How are you?" or "Pleased to meet you!" rather than this phrase. Personally I use the two examples above. "How do you do?"..... How do I do WHAT??? lol.
@richiem (3644)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
Funny!
I don't think we use it here. We are always told of "Hi, Hello,
Fine, thank you, Goodbye" routine when we were in primary school.
I don't think it makes sense. I think if I would use it, I would
say in reply "fine, how do you do?"
Have a nice day!
@randomosity_prevails (1112)
•
20 Aug 08
It's really a rather old phrase, that I don't believe is used much, if at all, in the UK (which is where it originated from). It's been adapted over the years, so that a more common question is 'how are you doing?' or 'how are you?'. The answer would usually involve 'fine, and you?' or 'well, how about you?'.
It's really more of a parody now, used in comedy to signify the speaker's age, and usual fastidiousness.
