Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (79 page)

How goes it (with you)?
How are things going with you?
T
OM
: How goes it? J
ANE
: Great! How goes it with you? T
OM
: Couldn't be better
.
S
ALLY
: Greetings, Sue. How goes it? S
UE
: Okay, I guess. And you? S
ALLY
: The same.

How (have) you been?
one of the standard greeting inquiries.
B
OB
: Hi, Fred! How have you been? F
RED
: Great! What about you? B
OB
: Fine
.
B
OB
: How you been? S
UE
: Okay, I guess. You okay? B
OB
: Yup.

How many times do I have to tell you?
a phrase admonishing someone who has forgotten instructions.
M
OTHER
: How many times do I have to tell you? Do your homework! B
ILL
: Mom! I hate school!
M
ARY
: Clean this place up! How many times do I have to tell you? B
ILL
: I'll do it! I'll do it!

How may I help you?
AND
How can I help you?; How can I serve you?; May I help you?; What can I do for you?
In what way can I serve you? (Usually said by shopkeepers and food service personnel. The first question is the most polite, and the last is the least polite.)
W
AITER
: How can I help you? S
UE
: I'm not ready to order yet
.
C
LERK
: May I help you? J
ANE
: I'm looking for a gift for my aunt.

How should I know?
AND
Don't ask me
.
I do not know. Why should I be expected to know? (Shows impatience or rudeness.)
B
ILL
: Why is the orca called the killer whale? M
ARY
: How should I know?
S
ALLY
: Where did I leave my glasses? T
OM
: Don't ask me.

How
something
is that
!
Isn't that wonderful or awesome? (The
something
= cool, good, great, awesome, yummy, etc. More of an exclamation than a question, and either the question mark or the exclamation mark can be used.)
A: Here is my new jacket. Isn't the red bright? B: How cool is that?
Now here is my latest creation. How great is that?