Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (80 page)

How time flies
.
Go to (My,) how time flies.

How will I know you?
Go to How will I recognize you?

How will I recognize you?
AND
How will I know you?
a question asked by one of two people who have agreed to meet for the first time in a large busy place.
T
OM
: Okay, I'll meet you at the west door of the station. M
ARY
: Fine. How will I recognize you? T
OM
: I'll be wearing dark glasses.
B
ILL
: I'll meet you at six. How will I recognize you? M
ARY
: I'll be carrying a brown umbrella.

How you been?
Go to How (have) you been?

How you doing?
Go to How (are) you doing?

How you feeling?
Go to How (are) you feeling?

How-de-do
.
AND
Howdy(-do)
.
a greeting inquiry meaning How do you do.; a response to the greeting inquiry How-de-do. (These forms never have rising question intonation, but the first instance of either one calls for a response. Familiar and folksy.)
B
ILL
: Well, here's my old pal, Tom. How-de-do, Tom. T
OM
: How-de-do. How you been?
S
ALLY
: How do you do, Mr. Johnson. T
OM
: Howdy, ma'am. S
ALLY
: Charmed, I'm sure.

Howdy(-do)
.
Go to How-de-do.

How're things going?
one of the standard greeting inquiries.
B
OB
: Hi, Fred! How're things going? F
RED
: Could be better. How's by you?
B
ILL
: How are things going? M
ARY
: Fine, but I need to talk to you.

How're things (with you)?
a greeting inquiry.
S
ALLY
: How are you? B
ILL
: Fine. How are things?
B
ILL
: How are things going? M
ARY
: Fine. How are things with you?

How's business?
a question asked in a conversation about the state of someone's business or job.
T
OM
: Hello, Sally. How's business? S
ALLY
: Okay, I suppose
.
B
OB
: Good to see you, Fred. F
RED
: Hello, Bob. How's business? B
OB
: Just okay.

How's by you?
a greeting inquiry. (Informal.)
F
RED
: Hey, man! How's by you? J
OHN
: Groovy, Fred. Tsup?
B
OB
: Hello. What's cooking? B
ILL
: Nothing. How's by you?